Living in Baja California as a Foreigner: Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and Mexicali

Baja California offers Mexican living costs and culture right next to Southern California. Some residents cross the border daily for work or school; others are retirees who want the Pacific coast within driving distance of US family, doctors, and shopping. Tijuana is also a major manufacturing center, and Ensenada's Valle de Guadalupe is Mexico's best-known wine region.

To live in Mexico long term, you need Mexican residency: temporary residency, or permanent residency for retirees who qualify (see retiring in Mexico). Working in the US while living in Mexico requires separate US work authorization. US green card holders who move to Mexico should understand the US rules on keeping permanent residence; see reentry permits.

• Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada have a mild coastal climate similar to San Diego: dry summers, cool and sometimes rainy winters, and morning fog.
• Mexicali and San Felipe are hot deserts, with extreme summer heat.
• Valle de Guadalupe is warmer and drier than the coast in summer.

Baja California is in an earthquake zone, like Southern California. It uses Pacific time and changes clocks on the same dates as the US, unlike most of Mexico.

Living costs are well below San Diego and Los Angeles, which is the main reason many people move here. Prices are higher than in many other Mexican cities, though, and rents in Tijuana and along the coast have risen with demand from US residents and remote workers. Some coastal rentals and homes are priced in US dollars. The border region also has its own higher minimum wage (440.87 pesos a day in 2026, according to Mexico's minimum wage commission), which affects what local services cost.

See the cost of living guide and renting in Mexico. We do not list housing prices because they change quickly.

• Land crossings. The main crossings are San Ysidro and Otay Mesa (Tijuana), Tecate, and Calexico (Mexicali). Northbound waits into the US can be long at peak times. Frequent crossers often apply for a US trusted traveler program such as SENTRI, run by US Customs and Border Protection.
• Cross Border Xpress (CBX). A pedestrian bridge from the US side in Otay Mesa directly into Tijuana International Airport (TIJ), for passengers with a ticket on a flight from TIJ.
• Airports. TIJ has flights across Mexico; Mexicali (MXL) is smaller. San Diego's airport is the usual choice for US flights.
• Getting around. Tijuana has buses, shared route taxis, and ride-hailing apps. Along the coast, most residents drive, using the scenic toll road (Highway 1D) between Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada.

When you enter Mexico by land to live here, make sure you get your passport stamped and complete the entry process correctly, because INM needs proof of legal entry for the canje.

Tijuana has many private hospitals and clinics, including Hospital Ángeles Tijuana, and a large medical and dental tourism industry. Ensenada and Mexicali have public and private hospitals. Many residents with US insurance or Medicare cross the border for some care, since those plans generally do not pay for care in Mexico.

Legal residents can apply for voluntary IMSS enrollment, and many also buy private health insurance.

Check both governments' state-level advice before you move:

• US State Department travel advisory for Mexico: read the Baja California entry.
• Government of Canada travel advice for Mexico: the country-wide level is "exercise a high degree of caution." As of its September 17, 2026 update, Canada has no separate regional warning for Baja California.

Advisories change, so check the current wording. See our safety guide.

Most people get a residency visa at a Mexican consulate first, such as the consulate in San Diego or Los Angeles. Check the income or savings test with the solvency calculator. After you enter Mexico, start the canje within 30 days at the INM office that covers your address.

Use the same office for renewals.

Property. Almost all of Baja California is within 100 km of the US border or 50 km of the coast, Mexico's restricted zone, so foreigners buy residential property through a bank trust (fideicomiso). See buying property with a fideicomiso. Have a notary public check title, especially in coastal communities where ejido land disputes have affected buyers in the past.

Driving. The Baja peninsula is a free zone for vehicles, so you do not need a temporary vehicle import permit to drive a US- or Canadian-plated car here; you do if you continue to mainland Mexico. You need Mexican auto insurance. Once you are a resident, see Mexican plates and driver's licenses.