Retire in Tijuana, Mexico

Last updated on Sep 17, 2022

Summary: What is it like to retire in Tijuana, Mexico? DATASENTENCE Retirees share their experiences living in Tijuana.

How do I meet people in Tijuana?

When we asked people living in Tijuana about club and activities where newcomers can meet others, they responded:

"Tijuana is an athletic city. They love their soccer and baseball. Joining the local leagues are a great way of meeting others. They also have outdoor clubs such as hiking clubs and rock climbing and rappelling clubs which are active and a great way to meet others. The friends I made in one of these clubs then brought me around to different festivals and events at which I met more people and expanded my new friend network," remarked another retiree in Tijuana.

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What is life like in Tijuana?

When we asked people living in Tijuana what life is like and how people spend their time, they said:

"The locals work long hours (normally 48 hours a week) but their priority still remains to their family first. Family is everything to them and they will miss work to take care of a sick child or bring an aunt to the clinic. Outside of work and family they love music, dancing, to eat, and play and watch soccer and baseball," explained a retiree in Tijuana.

"Because we live in a border region, people's priorities generally revolve around family and work, in that order, then friends, socializing and sports," explained one retiree living in Tijuana.

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What do I need to know before retiring in Tijuana?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Tijuana, they said:

"Learn Basic Spanish is number one. Two be prepared for the culture shock. It is a completely different way of living from most countries and you will need to adapt to their way and not the other way around. It's best if you know some people there before going. They can help you with the adaption and suggest the safer areas as well as the areas to stay away from," explained one retiree living in Tijuana.

"Make language acquistion a high priority--but not over taking care of you family's needs! If you know nothing about Mexican culture, working with a Mexican professional language tutor can really help you learn the culture at the same time. Be prepared that adjusting to a foreign environment can be very difficult--usually more so for spouses (typically SAHM) and takes up to 3 years to begin to feel a part of the community," said another retiree in living in Tijuana, Mexico.

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About the Author

Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.

Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.