Cost Of Living in Tijuana 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Tijuana

Whether you're living in Tijuana or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Tijuana is 47,000 MXN. Expenses can range from 6,700 MXN at the minimum level to 320,000 MXN at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Tijuana is 79,000 MXN. Expenditure can range from 26,000 MXN to 420,000 MXN per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Tijuana is 110,000 MXN per month. Families spend anywhere from 37,000 MXN to 680,000 MXN.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Tijuana is 34,000 MXN. Students spend from 5,300 MXN to 230,000 MXN per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Tijuana

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Tijuana is 110% This means that on average, people spend around 110% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 17% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
96%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

86%

110%

Couple
100%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

90%

110%

Family
110%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

100%

120%

How do people spend their money in Tijuana?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Tijuana typically spend from 15% to 34% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average spend on housing is 21,000 MXN with expenditure ranging from 1,600 MXN to 210,000 MXN. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Tijuana ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 3,400 MXN with 260 MXN and 34,000 MXN being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 530 MXN to 68,000 MXN on commuting with 6,800 MXN being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Tijuana is 17,000 MXN. The cost of groceries can range between 1,300 MXN to 170,000 MXN. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.

People in Tijuana allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 370 MXN to 48,000 MXN with 4,800 MXN being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 210 MXN to 27,000 MXN with 2,700 MXN being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 4,100 MXN per month with 320 MXN being the minimum spent amount and 41,000 MXN being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Tijuana every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Tijuana manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 85% of the surveyed people in Tijuana said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 15% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Tijuana

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 17% to 42% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 28% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 26,000 MXN on average with savings ranging from 2,000 MXN to 260,000 MXN.

88% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 81% of couples said the same. 75% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Tijuana?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 21% to 45% of their monthly income to savings, with 33% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 18,000 MXN with 2,000 MXN and 120,000 MXN being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 18% to 44% of their monthly income, with 31% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 29,000 MXN with 9,800 MXN and 160,000 MXN being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Tijuana can save anywhere between 15% to 39% of their monthly income, with 26% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 39,000 MXN with 14,000 MXN and 260,000 MXN being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Tijuana

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Tijuana. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 17% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Tijuana

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Tijuana

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Tijuana?

Around 90% of surveyed residents think that living in Tijuana is affordable with proper budgeting while 10% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Tijuana

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options77%

Few low-cost options23%

Based on the survey, 77% of the people living in Tijuana have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 23% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Tijuana whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes89%

No11%

Based on the survey, 11% of the people living in Tijuana said that they don't have an emergency fund while 89% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Mexico

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy65%

We asked residents of Mexico whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 35% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 65% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Mexico have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 28% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 72% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance28%

Easily manages finances72%

Financial goals of people in Tijuana

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Tijuana, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 35% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 10% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 10% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Tijuana

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Tijuana and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Mexico is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Tijuana about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Tijuana

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Tijuana

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 32% of the people in Tijuana have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 68% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Tijuana

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 36% of the people's monthly income in Tijuana goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Tijuana pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 13% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 14% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Tijuana

12% of debtors in Tijuana confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 26% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 21% of people and personal loans rose at 38%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Tijuana.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Tijuana

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Tijuana how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Tijuana

Rent Cost in Tijuana

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

6,000 MXN

9,000 MXN

24,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$360

$530

$1,400

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

9,000 MXN

14,000 MXN

36,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$530

$850

$2,100

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

12,000 MXN

18,000 MXN

48,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$710

$1,100

$2,800

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

14,000 MXN

24,000 MXN

66,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$850

$1,400

$3,900

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

29,000 MXN

72,000 MXN

140,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,700

$4,300

$8,500

Townhouse monthly rent cost

24,000 MXN

36,000 MXN

100,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$2,100

$6,100

House monthly rent cost

29,000 MXN

72,000 MXN

140,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,700

$4,300

$8,500

Villa monthly rent cost

36,000 MXN

90,000 MXN

140,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,100

$5,300

$8,500

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Tijuana ranges between 6,000 MXN and 24,000 MXN, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 9,000 MXN to 36,000 MXN. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 12,000 MXN and 48,000 MXN per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 14,000 MXN to 66,000 MXN. The average rent of a townhouse in Tijuana is around 36,000 MXN while house rental costs can be as high as 72,000 MXN per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 36,000 MXN to 140,000 MXN per month.

Apartment and house prices in Tijuana

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1.2M MXN

1.8M MXN

3.6M MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$71,000

$110,000

$210,000

1-bedroom apartment price

1.4M MXN

2.4M MXN

9M MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$85,000

$140,000

$530,000

2-bedroom apartment price

2.4M MXN

7.2M MXN

14M MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140,000

$430,000

$850,000

3-bedroom apartment price

8M MXN

12M MXN

36M MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470,000

$710,000

$2.1M

Townhouse price

10M MXN

24M MXN

90M MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$610,000

$1.4M

$5.3M

House price

12M MXN

72M MXN

100M MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$710,000

$4.3M

$6.1M

Villa price

14M MXN

80M MXN

120M MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$850,000

$4.7M

$7.1M

The average price of a studio apartment in Tijuana can range from 1.2M MXN to 3.6M MXN depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.4M MXN to 9M MXN. A villa can cost you 80M MXN on average with prices ranging from 14M MXN to 120M MXN.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Tijuana can be x162 to x278 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x162 multiples of the average monthly salary in Tijuana.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Tijuana is around 42%. This means that people pay 42% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 30% to 55% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Tijuana

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Tijuana

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

400 MXN

2,800 MXN

19,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$24

$170

$1,100

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

1,100 MXN

3,600 MXN

23,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$62

$210

$1,400

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

1,800 MXN

5,300 MXN

34,000 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110

$310

$2,000

Internet and cable cost

280 MXN

570 MXN

750 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17

$33

$44

Mobile phone bill and charges

230 MXN

380 MXN

1,100 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$22

$67

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Tijuana ranges between 400 MXN and 19,000 MXN with average being 2,800 MXN, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 3,600 MXN with 1,100 MXN and 23,000 MXN being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 5,300 MXN. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 280 MXN to 750 MXN with 570 MXN being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 380 MXN but can range between 230 MXN and 1,100 MXN depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Tijuana is around 6.4%. This means that people pay 6.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.6% to 12% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Tijuana

Prices and cost of goods and services in Tijuana

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

57 MXN

110 MXN

190 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.3

$6.7

$11

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Tijuana is approximatly 110 MXN with meal cost ranging from 57 MXN to 190 MXN. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

210 MXN

320 MXN

640 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$19

$38

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 210 MXN and 640 MXN with 320 MXN being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Tijuana.

Fine dining meal for one price

430 MXN

640 MXN

2,600 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25

$38

$150

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 430 MXN to 2,600 MXN with the average cost being 640 MXN for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Tijuana.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

47 MXN

75 MXN

110 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$4.4

$6.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Tijuana is around 75 MXN. Price ranges between 47 MXN and 110 MXN depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

38 MXN

45 MXN

57 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$2.7

$3.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Tijuana is 45 MXN. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 57 MXN and the minimum being 38 MXN depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

28 MXN

38 MXN

57 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.2

$3.3

A dozen eggs costs around 38 MXN on average with 28 MXN and 57 MXN being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

64 MXN

83 MXN

120 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.8

$4.9

$6.9

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Tijuana is between 64 MXN and 120 MXN depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 83 MXN.

Pack of beef price

75 MXN

110 MXN

230 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$6.7

$13

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 110 MXN. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

30 MXN

42 MXN

59 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.5

$3.5

A bag of rice in Tijuana costs around 42 MXN on average with prices rangeing between 30 MXN and 59 MXN depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

11 MXN

15 MXN

28 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.67

$0.89

$1.7

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 11 MXN to 28 MXN. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

20 MXN

26 MXN

43 MXN

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.6

A bag of apples costs 26 MXN on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Tijuana is around 32%. This means that people spend 32% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 22% to 40% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 7,600 MXN per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 1,100 MXN and 51,000 MXN depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 11,000 MXN per month. That number can be get as low as 3,700 MXN or a high as 59,000 MXN. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 6,600 MXN to 120,000 MXN with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Tijuana

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Tijuana

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Tijuana

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Tijuana