San Diego Workers Rent Homes in Tijuana to Afford Cost of Living

Skyrocketing rents in San Diego force some local workers to commute from cheaper housing across the border in Mexico.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:09pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus scene of a person crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, with soft, warm pools of light and color representing the commute between the two cities.As the cost of living in San Diego continues to soar, some local workers are finding refuge and financial relief by commuting daily from their homes across the border in Tijuana.San Diego Today

The high cost of living in San Diego has led some local workers to rent homes across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, where rents are much lower. These workers, including a warehouse stock clerk and a shipyard safety technician, commute daily between the two cities to get to their jobs in San Diego. While the move to Tijuana has provided financial relief, it also comes with challenges, as the surrounding Baja California region has a high level 3 travel advisory due to threats of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.

Why it matters

This story highlights the growing affordability crisis in major U.S. cities like San Diego, where the median rent has reached over $3,100 per month. As housing costs continue to rise, some workers are being forced to explore options outside of the city, even if that means commuting long distances or living in areas with higher crime rates. This trend raises concerns about the impact on workers' quality of life, work-life balance, and overall well-being.

The details

Amy McKee, a warehouse stock clerk in San Diego, used to pay $1,200 a month for a room in a house with four roommates. Now, she pays just $400 for a one-bedroom apartment in Tijuana and commutes daily to her job in San Diego. Vered Familiar, a shipyard safety technician, previously paid $2,100 for a one-bedroom apartment in San Diego but now pays $550 for a five-bedroom home in Tijuana. Zachary Gabriel, a manufacturing technician, starts his commute at 2 a.m. each day to avoid long border crossing lines and make it to his job in San Diego by 6 a.m.

  • McKee wakes up each workday and takes an Uber to the U.S.-Mexico border, which she crosses on foot before riding the San Diego Trolley to her job.
  • Familiar moved back to Tijuana this year after previously living in San Diego.
  • Gabriel starts his commute at 2 a.m. each workday to make it to his job in San Diego by 6 a.m.

The players

Amy McKee

A warehouse stock clerk in San Diego who now rents a one-bedroom apartment in Tijuana and commutes daily to her job.

Vered Familiar

A shipyard safety technician in San Diego who now rents a five-bedroom home in Tijuana after previously paying $2,100 for a one-bedroom apartment in San Diego.

Zachary Gabriel

A manufacturing technician who starts his commute at 2 a.m. each day to avoid long border crossing lines and make it to his job in San Diego by 6 a.m.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not like, 'Oh my gosh, I have a better life here.' I'm [also] not like, 'My gosh, the phone bill's due, I don't know how I'm going to pay for it.' Yeah, those days are gone.”

— Amy McKee, Warehouse Stock Clerk

“I was trying not to get in debt. I was trying to live in the bare minimum and I couldn't do it.”

— Vered Familiar, Shipyard Safety Technician

“This is survival for me. I am the sole provider for my wife and my children at a minimum. I have nobody to lean back on.”

— Zachary Gabriel, Manufacturing Technician

What’s next

The high cost of living in San Diego is likely to continue driving more workers to seek more affordable housing options across the border in Tijuana, raising concerns about the long-term impacts on commute times, worker well-being, and public safety.

The takeaway

This story highlights the growing affordability crisis in major U.S. cities, where skyrocketing housing costs are forcing some workers to make difficult choices, like commuting long distances or living in areas with higher crime rates, just to make ends meet. As this trend continues, policymakers will need to address the root causes of the housing crisis to ensure workers can afford to live in the communities where they work.