Tijuana: the vibe
Videos from people who went, played right here, with what viewers said underneath. Not part of the score.
The verdict
Liked · 66Long-time expats and residents are largely positive about Tijuana's cost of living, friendly neighborhoods and food, though they flag safety, corruption and the city's rough reputation as caveats.
- low cost of living
- friendly neighbors
- food and restaurants
- easy access to San Diego
- affordable groceries and housing
- welcoming locals
- safety concerns
- police corruption
- overpriced imported goods
- negative media reputation
- slow-paced San Diego contrast
- Residents who commute to San Diego find Tijuana far cheaper and comfortable long term
- Safety depends heavily on knowing neighborhoods and routes
- Media portrayal is far harsher than daily life described by expats
- Some still view the city mainly for tacos and nightlife
- Mixed signals overall, but long-term residents mostly stay content
Read from 5 videos, 28 comments and 0 posts on 2026-11-07; the summary is written by a language model and can misread sarcasm.
Retired in Tijuana, Mexico
Almost Retired in Mexico · 64K views · 2025
What viewers said
“I live in Tijuana. I work in San Diego. I love it here.”
♥ 70 likes
“Once again you knocked it out of the park! I love how you can find such interesting people to interview! I haven't been to Tijuana in quite a while but in the early days of crossing the border I was totally in love with this area, mostly be”
♥ 18 likes
“my wife and I moved here (Tijuana) about ten years ago we have lived in the col rio area for 8 years in this apt with our 4 dogs and love it , the neighbors are all extremely friendly and we were very fortunate to find this place where we p”
♥ 18 likes
“What's funny is the locals know where you are from. I live in San Diego and my girlfriend is Mexican and lives in Tijuana. Most of the time whenever we go into a restaurant, before we even say a word, they will give her the Spanish menu and”
♥ 22 likes
“My understanding is people often live in TJ and work in San Diego or the general area. These are Americans who moved to TJ because the housing is so much less expensive and for the single guys they like the women.”
♥ 8 likes
“I retired in Tijuana about 15 years ago. In fact I live in Soler as well. Besides the cost of living, There is very little difference between living here and living in California. In Soler we have 5 major super markets within walking distan”
♥ 12 likes
“Tijuana is a misunderstood city, but such an enjoyable place to be. My guests are often shocked when they experience the real Tijuana, instead of the one that's usually portrayed in the media.”
♥ 7 likes
“I❤️TJ.. what a smart man. TJ is a great city with lovely people.”
♥ 14 likes
“Years ago, I used to go to the VA in La Jolla and there would be veterans who were paying $500/Month for a room at a beachfront motel along the coast between Rosarito and Ensenada. This guy is doing it the right way but Tijuana is really ch”
♥ 24 likes
“Actually if you know your way around T.J. and the safest routes between where you want to go, and times to go. Well it's a more fasinating city than you would imagine. Great Restaurants, many down near "El Rio", some so famous and such a fo”
♥ 7 likes
Found with a YouTube search for the city and “digital nomad”, fetched 2026-11-07; titles, descriptions and comments belong to their authors and link to the originals.