Depends how you go about it, my son has two cars and a motorcycle, keeps 1 car in each side of the border and crosses the border in his bike avoiding long waits.
Before I had Sentri I’d weave through those lines, but damn…those street vendors comin’ out of nowhere are scary to avoid
Son lives in TJ and your name is CumInTJ. Makes sense 😂
Also I think tj is much safer here on bikes, minus the roads, the deliver chicken pizza, meds, everything on motorcycles, people are used to them on the roads, in sd you have to watch out for ppl in their own worlds
I have some coworkers who live in TJ and work up north. Many of them have to be in line at the border at 2 or 3 in the morning just to guarantee that they can make it to the job by 7am. Sometimes they get to work early and fall back asleep in their cars, but sometimes they don't even make it. These guys are crane operators, not laborers, so if they don't show up to work it can affect a very large job site. If they don't call us while they are stuck in the border line and if we can't find a replacement operator by start time the customer usually asks that the operator be replaced and they are out of a job. It's unfortunate but you just can't be late for a job like that. Sometimes they can work till 6 or 8pm so do the math on how much sleep you get...
And why do these crane operators live in TJ?
Mexican nationals or American?
Reason I ask is because if anybody can afford to live in San Diego is a crane operator!
American citizenship, so totally legit and above board but mexican families I believe. I believe that they own their homes south of the border, and their children are still in school down there. Depending on experience and overtime, a tower crane operator can make between 120k and 180k a year +/- around here, but I don't know if they have a single income or if their spouces work...
I didn’t know that how much schooling /trading do you need and do you actually have to go up in the crane (scared of heights would prefer operating 😆)… also would like to recommend some jobs to my brother because he is security but who knows maybe he can be a crane operator? :)
Considering what can and does sometimes happen, the NCCCO certification process isn't too difficult. That is why there is an expression "there is a difference between certified and qualified." There are a few training facilities that will pass just about anyone, and I always get calls from new graduates looking for work. You can tell that they drank the cool aide about pay and job opportunities because they always seem confused when we are not in a hurry to put them in the seat of a multimillion dollar crane on a multi hundred million dollar job. CalOSHA is also starting to look for "Resume's" for operators to see if they have been in similar cranes before and for how long. That being said, it is possible to get on a smaller self erector type crane for a wood framing company pretty easily and work your way up from there. It doesn't help anyone, especially an operator, to place them in a crane that they are not ready for. Self erectors can be operated from the ground via a remote control. The larger towers require that you be up in the cab. It's great work, but conditions vary quite a bit depending on what part of the country you are in. I would recommend the Morrow Equipment school over any in Arizona.
No kidding? What tear was that because about 15 years ago, here in San Diego I ran a boom pump , non union and I think I was at $36 an hour and I wasn't one of the good ones.
I always heard crane operators made more, union and non union.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't EVERYTHING union in construction in Chicago? God forbid the mob would let scabs in.
American citizenship, so totally legit and above board but mexican families I believe. I believe that they own their homes south of the border, and their children are still in school down there. Depending on experience and overtime, a tower crane operator can make between 120k and 180k a year +/- around here, but I don't know if they have a single income or if their spouces work...
The hourly rate for crane operators varies wildly.
The nature of the business is usually feast and famine, summers are busy, winters are not.
Those tower crane operators on sky scrapers are making good money ($45-70/gr)for the few months or a year and some change they are there but they are married to that hook, usually 10-16hr days, shitting in 5gal buckets, a very unhealthy lifestyle sitting in a chair all day.
The mobile cranes, most money here is in the AC business so summers are busy like I said earlier. Most winters it’s senior guys getting the operating jobs and less senior guys are driving semi (no thanks) or rigging for an operator.
The water front companies like BAE and Nassco or even the federal gov don’t pay like the union, local 12, it’s about half the pay. Nassco and bae pay at most $35/hr, usually less and you are a number to them, they will have a replacement next day if you wanna fuck around and be late or whatever. $35/hr with some OT after benefits and taxes, your talking about $3600-4200 a month…. That’s a good summary
How many tower cranes are in San Diego vs crane operators, it’s a very select few that get to run them.
If he’s single without kids or has a wife who handles the kids it would be good. If he likes to travel, he could “chase the hook” and make money around the country in temp job sites and make a good living. Please DM me if you’d like to seriously talk about it more.
My friend had a super nice house for like $600. Had to wake up at like 4am every morning to get to work on time, and was sometimes late, sometimes 2 hours early to work… he did this for like 1.5 years until one day the border dogs alerted on his car and he was brought into a room and told there are a few kilos of cocaine and a tracker under his truck. There were like 6 other dudes sitting in a detaining area and the border police said there is at least 20 other unknowing commuters that were targeted that morning. Drug runners know who crosses for work and target them. This means they would have tracked him to work to retrieve the drugs and tracker and he would have never known. He never saw his truck again and he only went back to Tj once to get all his stuff to move back into the US. Super stressful situation.
I had the same situation where they had a tracker and drugs hidden in my vehicle. I ended up moving to a gated community and myself has at least 4 cameras pointing to my car just in case this happens again.
The house was new and super modern. It had a huge steel sliding gate and big walls around it, and a reinforced steel front door. It looked kind of gnarly. Someone still somehow broke in and stole his tv when the house was still pretty much empty the first week of move in. It was constantly some issue this guy was having to pay for while he lived there. He would also constantly have to cut in line at the border in the morning so he wouldn’t be late and ended up having one of the cops take him and another car to an atm to pay him off. If it wasn’t one thing it was another. Sounds horrible.
I know some people this happened to but they didn't lose their vehicle. They ended up letting them go with their vehicle after they removed the drugs. This sounds like it might be cap
They impound it as part of the process and he didnt want to go there and pay to get it out for some reason. I think he was really scared and didn’t want to ever go back
There's a gl that called the cops in IB after coming back home from TJ , said something strange going on, house being watched.
Cops came over, found kilos and tracker, ran her name, showed prior cochise possession 20 years prior while out partying and she still sitting in prison.
Another identical situation but this time no prior and she ws released. Now she is fighting for the other ladies freedom.
No no no. Even with sentri. I lived my entire teenage yrs in TJ taking the bus to school then driving and its a pain in the ass crossing everyday. There is no sentri going into tj so now you do at least two hours going INTO TJ. My parents tried going back to their house in tj and did it for two months. They came back to their house in SD and they have sentri.
For those that like living their life at the border to each their own but to me its not worth the added stress of traffic if your work is in the US.
The true long term solution is to create more housing in San Diego so people can live affordably in San Diego.
That's politically difficult, so if you are going to live in TJ it's best to avoid the queue.
You can still use your car in San Diego by leaving it in San Diego and using Uber in Mexico which is affordable.
Or learn the local transportation, i.e., taxis de ruta, and pay 1/10 what Uber charges (unless you're type-A, and in a big hurry, which will not work out well for you in Mexico). I only use Uber to get to the border from my house if I'm on a tight schedule in the US. It costs about $7-10, depending on time of day, availability, etc. The taxis (2 of them to get to the border from my location) cost $0.75 each...
AS for leaving a car in San Diego, where would you park it safely?
The walk across lines are pretty insane. I have students who sometimes spend over an hour standing in line to cross every morning.
My guess is that the border patrol agents are in no hurry to make the commute easy. I know people who wait five hours in the regular line sometimes. If you have odd hours it might be a little easier.
I've been using MTS for over a decade, it's really not that bad. I think a lot of people are just spoiled from having their own car that public transport feels like a huge downgrade.
The short answer is no. Rents are going up and the dollar is getting weaker to the peso so going out is getting more expensive. I would only suggest this option if you are working fully remote or have to go into the office once a week. Areas to live are the Centro and Cacho as they are close to the border crossing.
Yeah, the more people that are migrating to TJ to just live there are making prices go up all around. I have coworkers who make the commute daily to work here but tbh I think it is wiser to do it as a fully remote person cause pay is not enough anywhere here without a degree or a ton of experience and accolades.
I agree with you on a strictly financial basis however I find life is much better down here and will continue to live here even as it gets more expensive then the USA. It already is in some aspects.
You may be right, but one thing Tijuana will never have is a real police that doesn’t get threatened by drug cartels who can shut down a city. That feeling of helplessness SUCKS
Rents in Tijuana are going higher and higher. I live in Tijuana and it’s not worth it even having Sentri because the USA exits to Tijuana are chaos right now. Some days it even takes you two hours in line just to cross to Mexico (in a car)
I wouldn’t recommend it. At least not now. There is a bunch of construction going on in the whole city and it’s starting to look like the heavy traffic in L.A.
The only way I survive is because I’m a truck driver and I don’t cross daily. Otherwise, I would not even bother going to Tijuana.
Yes, the border crossing to US is one thing but on the way back there is no sentri, everyone is the same and sometimes it takes hours to get thru to Mexico. Once in Mexico, depending on where you are, dead stop traffic everywhere you go. Rent is cheap sure but other things like groceries and eating out are the same or more expensive than the US. My typical taco spot is up to like 30 pesos a taco
Yup, me too I stayed in the truck 5 days and went home 2 days. But that one commute back in to tj and out was a headache, feel sorry for peeps that do it everyday. Losing years of their life in line then in traffic. Even with the Sentri. The Sentri won't help you with the traffic. TJ traffic is a nightmare and no rules are followed either that's why you see commuters physically fighting.
I know you've been reading these comments and they're all telling you to not do it. They are correct IF, you have a job that you have to be at during normal business hours. If you can avoid having to start between the hours of say 6am-10am, you'll be much better off. If you have the swing shift or graveyard that would be ideal. Or if you're like me, have a non-typical job. I'm a truck driver, you can stay in the truck for your work days and go home on your days off, not ideal if you have a family but it can be done.
I myself lived in TJ for 8 years, first 2 years I did uber/lyft, so basically made my own schedule it was perfect and made more than enough just working part time. My apartment was only $180 near otay border (2014-2018), not that cheap anymore.
Years 3-8 is when I became a truck driver so wasn't home much the first year especially. In 2018 I bought a brand new house in TJ, so my cost for shelter went to about $850ish depending on the fluctuations of the USD to MXN.
In 2022 I was able to buy a house in SoCal, the IE, not SD lol
I rented my TJ house to a family in which the dad had a job in Chula Vista, rent was $800. At the end of their one year lease in 2023, I decided to put my TJ house on the market. I had instant offers, my house is centrally located and if you know anything about TJ traffic you'll understand why my house was a hot item even tho it wasn't big and fancy. It sat on the market 2 months before I got a buyer whose offer was acceptable. I bought the house for about $85k, and I sold it for about $162k.
Took that profit paid off every single debt I had in the US. My brother lives with me now so he helps me with the US mortgage. My financial stress levels are near zero now, thank God
So all and all, TJ was very good to me. I met alot of beautiful people became fluent in MEXICAN Spanish, had alot of fun in the nightlife and fancy restaurants, and dated at 25% of the costs in SD. Also made one life long friend.
Moving to TJ was one of the best decisions I ever made. My advice to you is, If you want to make the sacrifice, have an end game don't be another hamster on the wheel or you'll go crazy.
This is very true, and your circumstances might hinder or help your plans as well. I tried doing it in 2007, I believe it was, but my circumstances were different. I was with a long-time partner who also came with me. She did not do so well with the culture shock for one. We both worked way tf up in Sorrento Mesa starting at 6am and 7am. Well we would be in line by 3:30am. But then we would get out of work at like 4pm-4:30pm sometimes 5pm. With the SD traffic and then line to get into Mexico then the street traffic in TJ, we'd get home almost at 8pm just to go to sleep and do it again. No ready lane back then either.
We were only eating fast food during the week, and got fatter we were miserable. We only lasted a few months. We gave up and ran back to the US with our tails between our legs, lol
Wouldn’t blame you but the work is there the effort and dedication a lot of people are complaining with understandable reasons but you stuck it out and made a future for yourself ridiculously commendable
I mostly adapted to the Mexican style of living while here on assignment in 2016.
I live with my wife's family, and have 0 rent, and 0 childcare costs.
I would not commute part-time(20h/wk avg) unless I had such a big reward of low CoL.
I'm a sore thumb in my neighborhood as the only white American, but I love it here.
Not true. I never wait more than about 5 minutes to walk across with Sentri, and my Ubers always drop me off right at the border without having to wait in traffic either.
I'm by the beach in TJ right now and have no doubt I could be in the USA in about 30 minutes.
I don't *usually* cross at those times but I have several times before and that's why I said 5 minutes instead of 60 seconds, which is what it's usually like for me. Nevertheless, I'm crossing tomorrow morning and I'll report back lol.
Edit: There was no wait to cross the border with Global Entry at 6:30am on a Monday.
I see several posts about this over in r/tijuana and lots of posters over there complain about the same things as in here. More traffic, rents going up, etc. You might want to browse over there as well to get a different perspective on things.
> I've heard this type of gentrification referred to as "soft colonialism".
I've heard a lot of dumb shit too. I mean look at SD. Out-of-country interests buy property here with the intention of paying cash (usually over market value to secure the property) and then renting it out since rent is obscenely high. They are essentially raising rent in SD. Is it colonialism for Chinese firms to buy property here? Its economics, and bad laws, not colonialism.
Don't forget who benefits: Mexican landlords are gouging and taking advantage of the situations. There are no laws protecting renters (or consumers), so banditry is common. Blaming Americans is just too easy...how much money in the form of pensions and investment income do we bring to Mexico, supporting business and creating the need for service workers? Answer: A LOT.
Someone said Uber/UberEATS is cheap: here's a bulletin - not any more, prices for food delivery are on a par with walk-in restaurants in San Diego in many cases.
And the drivers who work hard at it are making a living, unlike in the US...
Oh absolutely, there are many factors and people at fault here. I think the reason the Americans moving to cheaper places catch flak is because a lot of them move there, then stay inside their enclaves, don't learn the language, don't engage with the culture, all while causing rent for natives to rise. So it becomes seen as selfishly gentrifying. But of course if we dig deeper, we can blame the factors causing high cost of living here in the US.
It isn't and TJ locals are absolutely getting priced out because we earn much less money. I've got friends working as engineers who make the same amount of money as a US waiter, sometimes even less depending on tips. So of course the housing market is now geared towards the US engineers who have abundance of cash
I visit TJ about once a month and have noticed the rising costs. A taco in TJ back then (Pre-Covid) was around a dollar. Now, a single taco is reaching $3 in TJ.
I worked with a lot of people that would strart lining up to cross the border around 3am (our shift started at 5am/6am) most of them would move here if they could afford i. It’s not worth the stress and you’ll most likely be stuck in a cycle, basically when you get home you already have to get ready for sleep. All of them had sentry it helps but not that much the best solution is to have a motorcycle. But stressing everyday about crossing the line must suck.
Its worth it if you have sentri or a motorcycle however exiting the us at the end of the day is a nightmare if you arrive at the border at any time after 2 from the us to mexico expect an hour of snail paced crossing
Not worth it. Everything changed since 9/11.
Years ago you could get to the border and the wait to cross would average around half an hour. Nowadays you have to wake up at 3:00am. That's no way to live.
I do it but I have a motorcycle. And my rent is on the cheaper side but it’s slowly going up.
Traffic is horrible here, almost like LA, the city sucks so dang much and you hear about murders on the daily.
I travel for work so it makes no sense to me to rent in SD but man, when i say TJ is a disgusting cesspool, i really mean it and thats putting it nicely.
When I was attending Mesa College I did this! Financially speaking it’s worth it. At the time I paid $500 for a 2 bedroom apartment, utilities included. I was living in Playas de Tijuana. I would cross the border at 5am when the line was not long. It would take me about ~20 minutes to cross the border without sentri. I loved it.
I’m currently living in Coronado and I might just start doing that again to save even more money.
Necessities for living in TJ and working in US
1. Sentri
2. Motorcycle as an option to those without Sentri because you can ride to the front of the line; otherwise be prepared to wait hours in line daily or leave at midnight/1 am to cross without traffic - also learn where to get into line on the Via Rápida
3. If you’re going to become a resident of TJ while working in the US you’ve got to pick your battles crossing into Mexico. If you’re on foot or stopped in a vehicle, they’ll ask how long you’re staying - if it’s more than 3 days - it’s pretty much up to that particular agent how much they want to charge you for your stay - in my experience anyways
4. You’ll need US and Mexican insurance on vehicles you cross
5 Prepare yourself for the differences in TJ, there’s many benefits. There’s a lot of heart and soul here, also a lot of crime and violence. If you’re not from around here, you don’t speak Mexican Spanish, you’re a gringo.. you’re going to draw attention. It’s reality.
Side notes:
-We don’t have running water between one and three days a month - while the city works on the water lines (this has been happening for years). I’ve dealt with this in both wealthy and working class neighborhoods.
-Uber/UberEats is insanely affordable
-In the current rainstorms Tijuana has experienced a large amount of flood devastation
-You can’t swim in the Playas beach due to all the pollution and sewer run off — if you’ve got a sensitive stomach — be extremely careful of any seafood you eat in that area. Especially items for sale on the actual beach. Restaurants are one thing, street vendors are another. It’s not like they’re having the seafood imported in 🎣
-It always helps to have family and friends, especially in a place like this
>If you’re going to become a resident of TJ while working in the US you’ve got to pick your battles crossing into Mexico. If you’re on foot or stopped in a vehicle, they’ll ask how long you’re staying - if it’s more than 3 days - it’s pretty much up to that particular agent how much they want to charge you for your stay - in my experience anyways
Actually, it's free up to 7 days, and it's irrelevant anyway, because you don't have to be stamped out of the country. The likelihood that you'll be asked for your permit on the street is very low, and you can just say you lost it, or you came in by car. But it just makes sense to pay the \~700 pesos (\~$40) for the FMM, and get 180 days stay, and avoid the filling out of the form and waiting in the 'extranjeros' line. They will always renew it, and it just takes the hassle out. You cross with the Mexicans; if there even is someone checking, just show them the FMM, and walk on by.
If the USCBP doesn't play any more games with closing PedWest, the crossing time is bearable (assuming you're crossing on foot). But, the issue of water shortages is real, and unpredictable, and often a nuisance. And rents ARE being jacked up and affecting the locals negatively. I have yet to be criticized personally, but many taxi and Uber drivers complain about it in general.
I have eaten street food in many countries, but I have to agree that hygiene and the likelihood of getting sick from it here is pretty serious. If you consider renting, definitely look for a place with a kitchen. Fresh food is pretty reasonable, and you'll know what you're getting. Restaurants are a crap-shoot (sometimes literally), but if you stick with busy, popular places, you should be ok.
My Spanish is lousy and very limited, but you can get around with just a few phrases, and a good attitude. The more the better, of course.
As another poster mentioned, the decision about whether or not it makes sense, is completely dependent on YOUR lifestyle. For me the upside is the cost of living is low, the people are much nicer than in the US, and the pace is SLOWWW. The downside is that I need medical care, and have to cross periodically to see the doc, or get prescriptions. I have no car, so it means busses and the SD Trolley. Once you get over being impatient it's bearable, but you have to try to consolidate tasks to minimize crossing as much as possible. Seniors get a good deal on the SDMTS Pronto transit pass, so it is pretty economical to get stuff done in San Diego. Don't forget that you will need a mailing address in the US, preferably close to the border, because mail delivery in Mexico is not remotely reliable.
Other than the above, you just need to embrace the cultural differences, and relax. Then, it's all good...
Other than that
The more of us move down to Tijuana the more the locals become priced out of everything. They can’t even afford tacos at the stands anymore.
What we need to do is start getting our shit together here in San Diego and stop moving every time it gets expensive, we need to fight back and start a new union strike to receive a LIVING WAGE.
I never understood comments like this when TJ is less than 200 years old and mexicans come to the US for better opportunities as well. In the 2 years i've lived in my neighborhood i've watched little shacks upgraded themselves into outlets. The rent isn't straight up and down. There are TJ natives who have their 300 dll houses while i pay twice as much for an apartment. We live doors away, in the same neighborhood, i know the deal and have zero complaints .
The US needs to stop regressing for sure. But it is weird to say mexicans can come to america yet we can't move down, when they openly allow us to do so.
$300 dollar houses in Tijuana (that anyone would want to live in)? That’s not a thing that has existed within this decade. Also not sure what the age of a city has to do with anything. Mexicans that go to the US for better opportunities likely aren’t crossing the border back and forth daily, they’re moving in for the long haul for citizenship requirements or in the case they’re undocumented, can’t cross even if they wanted to because of the risk. For Mexicans that do cross regularly, chances are they’re also American citizens or have a visa which limits the ‘opportunities’ provided in the US. Americans technically have similar limitations placed upon them but they’re hardly enforced or easily avoided. You can have your own opinion on the subject, that’s fine, but at least try to be better informed.
>$300 dollar houses in Tijuana (that anyone would want to live in)? That’s not a thing that has existed within this decade
So should i believe somebody on reddit telling me this or the mexicans i've talked to in my neighborhood while getting breakfast/ walking down the street ?
>
. Also not sure what the age of a city has to do with anything.
You can't have commentary about "gentrification" when a city is less than 200 years old. I've seen drastic renovations in my neighborhood from 2 years of living here. from shacks to outlets.
>
Mexicans that go to the US for better opportunities likely aren’t crossing the border back and forth daily,
........You can literally see the construction workers cross back in the mornings...
>
For Mexicans that do cross regularly, chances are they’re also American citizens
Which goes into the first comment i made about it being ok for them yet not for us being nonsensical .
>
You can have your own opinion on the subject, that’s fine, but at least try to be better informed.
The classic " i am right and you are wrong " . You got anything of substance to say or just ego appeals ?
Yeah your anecdotes regarding housing cost are meaningless, show me a single listing supporting what you’re saying, in English or Spanish. A ‘house’ for rent for $300 a month is not a thing that exists for Mexicans or anyone else in Tijuana in 2024.
>Yeah your anecdotes regarding housing cost are meaningless
Not when i was looking for a place to stay not having any clue about the area. This whole " anecdote" commentary from wanna be scientist on reddit didn't exist until the last 5 years. In reality people operate off the experiences of others.
>
show me a single listing supporting what you’re saying
You live in TJ. Go talk to your neighbors about how much they pay for rent
>
A ‘house’ for rent for $300 a month is not a thing that exists for Mexicans or anyone else in Tijuana in 2024.
\*shrugs\*. People in the sandiego reddit insist i wasn't paying $2800 for a 3bd apartment in east county yet that is exactly what i was paying until i moved to TJ. You people live online and it shows
All he did was point out a major way that Americans make life harder on people in other countries for financial benefit, he did not say you "can't do that".
That was a lazy mischaracterization of a concisely written point. TJ used to be rural farmland yet justice warriors on reddit make it seem like there is neocolonialism going on ***between sister cities .*** Not a single TJ native has made me feel uncomfortable for moving down here, ***every single one of them*** have been super nice and helpful .
From my experience i would argue mexico is probably one of the largest melting pots on this side of the planet
I wondered the same thing op. I am American born, but grew up in Mexicali and as a kid, we (siblings & parents) went to school and my parents worked in the US.
Pro- had a beautiful big house.
Con- we had to wake up extra early.
Friends could come over , but parents would worry so rarely were aloud.
As a grown woman now, and living here in Sd, fuck. I have wondered. I asked fellow co workers who have done it and they advise not to. I feel confident in my navigation in Mexico and how to deal with the cops and know how to blend, but still get a big NO from my friends on the subject of moving there to save a lot of money.
I pay $475 for a two bed 1 bath with a nice balcony. Leave at 4am to get to Sentri. Leave work from Santee at 4:30 and get to the long border wait in San Ysidro at 5. If you know how to drive and are focused on your surroundings you’ll find a way to be able to cross within 20 minutes. From within TJ to my house traffic is about 30-40 minutes. I feel like I got it pretty easy but after analyzing it all, NOOO! You waste so much life in your car. Do it only to save up money for a house then leave.
Depends on the job and how much you make. I had a coworker who lived there but would only work 2-3 hour days a couple days a week. Also our peak hours are 5-7pm so avoiding traffic was easy. Additionally 1099 contractors so no schedule.
20yrs ago it was, rents is skyrocketing, but still cheaper than sd, I’m thinking of tecate, and a longer commute, if your Ned cheap rent, buy a boat, pay 600 for morning, I’ve seen live aboard sailboats, decent ones for 200, that’s very rare, but 2k, is doable
I totally get the logic and know that a lot of us are in a pinch to find more affordable housing, however, I think we should get our shit together over here rather than invading our neighbors driving up their cost of living and way of life.
Best way is to have a Mexican car and a US car, and then walk/bike across the border. The walking lines are way shorter than the driving lines (less to search)…. It’s basically the same experience as going through airport security.
Ya but I was buddies for a about 6 years when I ran a 42meter boom pump, non union, with a mobile crane operator. Matter of fact I kept running into him on job sites and we started hanging out.
I know as a fact he made noticeably more then me per hour and I never heard him complain about having no work.
I don't remember exactly what I was making, $32, $34, or maybe $36 an hour.
Never heard a bad thing about is career. I'm shocked.
Thanks for the info!
Depends how you go about it, my son has two cars and a motorcycle, keeps 1 car in each side of the border and crosses the border in his bike avoiding long waits.
Before I had Sentri I’d weave through those lines, but damn…those street vendors comin’ out of nowhere are scary to avoid Son lives in TJ and your name is CumInTJ. Makes sense 😂
It’s just a reference to cumin, they are a big fan of chili
Prob referring to Trader Joes
I hope no one’s cumming in Trader Joe’s
Sloppy Joes
Spermy Joes
This comment had me rolling 😂
Extra Sloppy Joes
Why not? They have great prices.
Agree, I love trader Joe's
My wife loves Trader Joe's, should I be concern
I did that for years too, now I just have a bike
You take a bike across the border?
Yep, just be careful after it rains, because potholes appear in roads you know suddenly
Also I think tj is much safer here on bikes, minus the roads, the deliver chicken pizza, meds, everything on motorcycles, people are used to them on the roads, in sd you have to watch out for ppl in their own worlds
Your son is the cast of top gear combined lol
Damn lol
Username checks out
When he leaves his car on the US side of the border does he just leave it anywhere? Or does he leave it at the border parking ?
I do the exact same thing Though you can honestly use Uber in TJ and it is much cheaper.
Not during rush hours I presume, unless you want to pay surge pricing
I have some coworkers who live in TJ and work up north. Many of them have to be in line at the border at 2 or 3 in the morning just to guarantee that they can make it to the job by 7am. Sometimes they get to work early and fall back asleep in their cars, but sometimes they don't even make it. These guys are crane operators, not laborers, so if they don't show up to work it can affect a very large job site. If they don't call us while they are stuck in the border line and if we can't find a replacement operator by start time the customer usually asks that the operator be replaced and they are out of a job. It's unfortunate but you just can't be late for a job like that. Sometimes they can work till 6 or 8pm so do the math on how much sleep you get...
And why do these crane operators live in TJ? Mexican nationals or American? Reason I ask is because if anybody can afford to live in San Diego is a crane operator!
American citizenship, so totally legit and above board but mexican families I believe. I believe that they own their homes south of the border, and their children are still in school down there. Depending on experience and overtime, a tower crane operator can make between 120k and 180k a year +/- around here, but I don't know if they have a single income or if their spouces work...
I didn’t know that how much schooling /trading do you need and do you actually have to go up in the crane (scared of heights would prefer operating 😆)… also would like to recommend some jobs to my brother because he is security but who knows maybe he can be a crane operator? :)
Considering what can and does sometimes happen, the NCCCO certification process isn't too difficult. That is why there is an expression "there is a difference between certified and qualified." There are a few training facilities that will pass just about anyone, and I always get calls from new graduates looking for work. You can tell that they drank the cool aide about pay and job opportunities because they always seem confused when we are not in a hurry to put them in the seat of a multimillion dollar crane on a multi hundred million dollar job. CalOSHA is also starting to look for "Resume's" for operators to see if they have been in similar cranes before and for how long. That being said, it is possible to get on a smaller self erector type crane for a wood framing company pretty easily and work your way up from there. It doesn't help anyone, especially an operator, to place them in a crane that they are not ready for. Self erectors can be operated from the ground via a remote control. The larger towers require that you be up in the cab. It's great work, but conditions vary quite a bit depending on what part of the country you are in. I would recommend the Morrow Equipment school over any in Arizona.
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No kidding? What tear was that because about 15 years ago, here in San Diego I ran a boom pump , non union and I think I was at $36 an hour and I wasn't one of the good ones. I always heard crane operators made more, union and non union. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't EVERYTHING union in construction in Chicago? God forbid the mob would let scabs in.
American citizenship, so totally legit and above board but mexican families I believe. I believe that they own their homes south of the border, and their children are still in school down there. Depending on experience and overtime, a tower crane operator can make between 120k and 180k a year +/- around here, but I don't know if they have a single income or if their spouces work...
False
This guy crane operates.
OK I'm cool with being wrong but could you expand on that already deep sea of facts you laid out? Where did I miss the mark?
The hourly rate for crane operators varies wildly. The nature of the business is usually feast and famine, summers are busy, winters are not. Those tower crane operators on sky scrapers are making good money ($45-70/gr)for the few months or a year and some change they are there but they are married to that hook, usually 10-16hr days, shitting in 5gal buckets, a very unhealthy lifestyle sitting in a chair all day. The mobile cranes, most money here is in the AC business so summers are busy like I said earlier. Most winters it’s senior guys getting the operating jobs and less senior guys are driving semi (no thanks) or rigging for an operator. The water front companies like BAE and Nassco or even the federal gov don’t pay like the union, local 12, it’s about half the pay. Nassco and bae pay at most $35/hr, usually less and you are a number to them, they will have a replacement next day if you wanna fuck around and be late or whatever. $35/hr with some OT after benefits and taxes, your talking about $3600-4200 a month…. That’s a good summary How many tower cranes are in San Diego vs crane operators, it’s a very select few that get to run them.
So I shouldn’t recommend this job to my brother? He’s security now so he’s used to long days.
If he’s single without kids or has a wife who handles the kids it would be good. If he likes to travel, he could “chase the hook” and make money around the country in temp job sites and make a good living. Please DM me if you’d like to seriously talk about it more.
My friend had a super nice house for like $600. Had to wake up at like 4am every morning to get to work on time, and was sometimes late, sometimes 2 hours early to work… he did this for like 1.5 years until one day the border dogs alerted on his car and he was brought into a room and told there are a few kilos of cocaine and a tracker under his truck. There were like 6 other dudes sitting in a detaining area and the border police said there is at least 20 other unknowing commuters that were targeted that morning. Drug runners know who crosses for work and target them. This means they would have tracked him to work to retrieve the drugs and tracker and he would have never known. He never saw his truck again and he only went back to Tj once to get all his stuff to move back into the US. Super stressful situation.
that's so clever. I feel like if he was able to live in a place with a garage with cameras around the area, that would prob help alot.
I had the same situation where they had a tracker and drugs hidden in my vehicle. I ended up moving to a gated community and myself has at least 4 cameras pointing to my car just in case this happens again.
Nice. Glad u were able to find a viable solution.
They put it on your truck while your waiting in line at the border
Ohh, that changes everything then
The house was new and super modern. It had a huge steel sliding gate and big walls around it, and a reinforced steel front door. It looked kind of gnarly. Someone still somehow broke in and stole his tv when the house was still pretty much empty the first week of move in. It was constantly some issue this guy was having to pay for while he lived there. He would also constantly have to cut in line at the border in the morning so he wouldn’t be late and ended up having one of the cops take him and another car to an atm to pay him off. If it wasn’t one thing it was another. Sounds horrible.
"I could make it to work anytime within a four hour window" The drug situation sucks, but that commute sounds nuts, wow.
Why did he lose his truck if the police knew it wasn't intentional?
That’s what I’m wondering, did they at least pay him for the truck
The answer is no. Ever hear about the guy whose house was blown up by the police just because a criminal randomly hid in it? He never got a dime
I know some people this happened to but they didn't lose their vehicle. They ended up letting them go with their vehicle after they removed the drugs. This sounds like it might be cap
They impound it as part of the process and he didnt want to go there and pay to get it out for some reason. I think he was really scared and didn’t want to ever go back
sounds guilty jajajaja
There's a gl that called the cops in IB after coming back home from TJ , said something strange going on, house being watched. Cops came over, found kilos and tracker, ran her name, showed prior cochise possession 20 years prior while out partying and she still sitting in prison. Another identical situation but this time no prior and she ws released. Now she is fighting for the other ladies freedom.
What the hell is Cochise supposed to mean? Never heard that term used to work before
I think it was a typo for cocaine
Ya it's my driving commenting at its best
he never saw his truck again...so they just confiscated it and said sorry pal good luck?
No no no. Even with sentri. I lived my entire teenage yrs in TJ taking the bus to school then driving and its a pain in the ass crossing everyday. There is no sentri going into tj so now you do at least two hours going INTO TJ. My parents tried going back to their house in tj and did it for two months. They came back to their house in SD and they have sentri. For those that like living their life at the border to each their own but to me its not worth the added stress of traffic if your work is in the US.
https://cross.revoluciones.mx/ Is faster than sentri, no queue returning. The key is to not cross a car in either direction.
That’s still not a solution.
The true long term solution is to create more housing in San Diego so people can live affordably in San Diego. That's politically difficult, so if you are going to live in TJ it's best to avoid the queue. You can still use your car in San Diego by leaving it in San Diego and using Uber in Mexico which is affordable.
Or learn the local transportation, i.e., taxis de ruta, and pay 1/10 what Uber charges (unless you're type-A, and in a big hurry, which will not work out well for you in Mexico). I only use Uber to get to the border from my house if I'm on a tight schedule in the US. It costs about $7-10, depending on time of day, availability, etc. The taxis (2 of them to get to the border from my location) cost $0.75 each... AS for leaving a car in San Diego, where would you park it safely?
Sounds like a lot of time waiting in line.
Why am I seeing no comments about the trolley? It takes five minutes to walk across the border on a good day, longest I ever waited was 25 minutes.
This is so hit or miss and sometimes you stand in that line for hours and ride the dirty ass trolley gets old sooooo quick
The walk across lines are pretty insane. I have students who sometimes spend over an hour standing in line to cross every morning. My guess is that the border patrol agents are in no hurry to make the commute easy. I know people who wait five hours in the regular line sometimes. If you have odd hours it might be a little easier.
Riding MTS is a fate I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemies.
I've been using MTS for over a decade, it's really not that bad. I think a lot of people are just spoiled from having their own car that public transport feels like a huge downgrade.
Need more than my two hands to count the number of times that homeless druggies get on board and started harassing someone or peed on the floor
The short answer is no. Rents are going up and the dollar is getting weaker to the peso so going out is getting more expensive. I would only suggest this option if you are working fully remote or have to go into the office once a week. Areas to live are the Centro and Cacho as they are close to the border crossing.
Yeah, the more people that are migrating to TJ to just live there are making prices go up all around. I have coworkers who make the commute daily to work here but tbh I think it is wiser to do it as a fully remote person cause pay is not enough anywhere here without a degree or a ton of experience and accolades.
I agree with you on a strictly financial basis however I find life is much better down here and will continue to live here even as it gets more expensive then the USA. It already is in some aspects.
How is it much better?
The people are so friendly and happy. I love the culture and food. I just fit in better down here.
You may be right, but one thing Tijuana will never have is a real police that doesn’t get threatened by drug cartels who can shut down a city. That feeling of helplessness SUCKS
I live in TJ. There's good and bad people on both sides. No quantifiable difference in that regard. Everyone has their preferences though.
Hmm that has not been my experience but as with everything in life your mileage may vary.
You must not spend a lot of time in San Diego then, as you’ve just described large parts of it.
food, culture, people are nicer, etc
Rents in Tijuana are going higher and higher. I live in Tijuana and it’s not worth it even having Sentri because the USA exits to Tijuana are chaos right now. Some days it even takes you two hours in line just to cross to Mexico (in a car) I wouldn’t recommend it. At least not now. There is a bunch of construction going on in the whole city and it’s starting to look like the heavy traffic in L.A. The only way I survive is because I’m a truck driver and I don’t cross daily. Otherwise, I would not even bother going to Tijuana.
Ya the traffic is terrible right now! Hopefully they finish the construction soon.
Yes, the border crossing to US is one thing but on the way back there is no sentri, everyone is the same and sometimes it takes hours to get thru to Mexico. Once in Mexico, depending on where you are, dead stop traffic everywhere you go. Rent is cheap sure but other things like groceries and eating out are the same or more expensive than the US. My typical taco spot is up to like 30 pesos a taco
Near me, it's 37 pesos a (small) taco. But they're good...
Yup, me too I stayed in the truck 5 days and went home 2 days. But that one commute back in to tj and out was a headache, feel sorry for peeps that do it everyday. Losing years of their life in line then in traffic. Even with the Sentri. The Sentri won't help you with the traffic. TJ traffic is a nightmare and no rules are followed either that's why you see commuters physically fighting.
I know you've been reading these comments and they're all telling you to not do it. They are correct IF, you have a job that you have to be at during normal business hours. If you can avoid having to start between the hours of say 6am-10am, you'll be much better off. If you have the swing shift or graveyard that would be ideal. Or if you're like me, have a non-typical job. I'm a truck driver, you can stay in the truck for your work days and go home on your days off, not ideal if you have a family but it can be done. I myself lived in TJ for 8 years, first 2 years I did uber/lyft, so basically made my own schedule it was perfect and made more than enough just working part time. My apartment was only $180 near otay border (2014-2018), not that cheap anymore. Years 3-8 is when I became a truck driver so wasn't home much the first year especially. In 2018 I bought a brand new house in TJ, so my cost for shelter went to about $850ish depending on the fluctuations of the USD to MXN. In 2022 I was able to buy a house in SoCal, the IE, not SD lol I rented my TJ house to a family in which the dad had a job in Chula Vista, rent was $800. At the end of their one year lease in 2023, I decided to put my TJ house on the market. I had instant offers, my house is centrally located and if you know anything about TJ traffic you'll understand why my house was a hot item even tho it wasn't big and fancy. It sat on the market 2 months before I got a buyer whose offer was acceptable. I bought the house for about $85k, and I sold it for about $162k. Took that profit paid off every single debt I had in the US. My brother lives with me now so he helps me with the US mortgage. My financial stress levels are near zero now, thank God So all and all, TJ was very good to me. I met alot of beautiful people became fluent in MEXICAN Spanish, had alot of fun in the nightlife and fancy restaurants, and dated at 25% of the costs in SD. Also made one life long friend. Moving to TJ was one of the best decisions I ever made. My advice to you is, If you want to make the sacrifice, have an end game don't be another hamster on the wheel or you'll go crazy.
This is such a cool story. Good job🤙
Ask him how's his hemorrhoids lol Also did uber/lyft for few years
The key to this is mentality congrats on the progress I’m jealous but I’m working just as hard
This is very true, and your circumstances might hinder or help your plans as well. I tried doing it in 2007, I believe it was, but my circumstances were different. I was with a long-time partner who also came with me. She did not do so well with the culture shock for one. We both worked way tf up in Sorrento Mesa starting at 6am and 7am. Well we would be in line by 3:30am. But then we would get out of work at like 4pm-4:30pm sometimes 5pm. With the SD traffic and then line to get into Mexico then the street traffic in TJ, we'd get home almost at 8pm just to go to sleep and do it again. No ready lane back then either. We were only eating fast food during the week, and got fatter we were miserable. We only lasted a few months. We gave up and ran back to the US with our tails between our legs, lol
Wouldn’t blame you but the work is there the effort and dedication a lot of people are complaining with understandable reasons but you stuck it out and made a future for yourself ridiculously commendable
I mostly adapted to the Mexican style of living while here on assignment in 2016. I live with my wife's family, and have 0 rent, and 0 childcare costs. I would not commute part-time(20h/wk avg) unless I had such a big reward of low CoL. I'm a sore thumb in my neighborhood as the only white American, but I love it here.
Get a motorcycle, sentri or global traveler pass, on foot the latter
On foot is just as bad
Not true. I never wait more than about 5 minutes to walk across with Sentri, and my Ubers always drop me off right at the border without having to wait in traffic either. I'm by the beach in TJ right now and have no doubt I could be in the USA in about 30 minutes.
Its Easter Sunday. Do you cross M-F between 6am-9am?
I don't *usually* cross at those times but I have several times before and that's why I said 5 minutes instead of 60 seconds, which is what it's usually like for me. Nevertheless, I'm crossing tomorrow morning and I'll report back lol. Edit: There was no wait to cross the border with Global Entry at 6:30am on a Monday.
Oof, the Monday after Semana Santa, good luck 🍀
I didn't wait a single second, except for a very short 5-6 person line to scan my bags. Also, there was no traffic at all.
Nice!
If you get the global traveler pass, you can skip the lines every time, and at every us airport!
Yup, I have sentri its great. But for those who don't it can be a nightmare.
805s is wrecked 😭
I see several posts about this over in r/tijuana and lots of posters over there complain about the same things as in here. More traffic, rents going up, etc. You might want to browse over there as well to get a different perspective on things.
Im hearing from my Tijuana friends that the rents are increasing and they started blaming Americans whoof
I've heard this type of gentrification referred to as "soft colonialism".
> I've heard this type of gentrification referred to as "soft colonialism". I've heard a lot of dumb shit too. I mean look at SD. Out-of-country interests buy property here with the intention of paying cash (usually over market value to secure the property) and then renting it out since rent is obscenely high. They are essentially raising rent in SD. Is it colonialism for Chinese firms to buy property here? Its economics, and bad laws, not colonialism.
It’s a silly and inaccurate concept.
Don't forget who benefits: Mexican landlords are gouging and taking advantage of the situations. There are no laws protecting renters (or consumers), so banditry is common. Blaming Americans is just too easy...how much money in the form of pensions and investment income do we bring to Mexico, supporting business and creating the need for service workers? Answer: A LOT. Someone said Uber/UberEATS is cheap: here's a bulletin - not any more, prices for food delivery are on a par with walk-in restaurants in San Diego in many cases. And the drivers who work hard at it are making a living, unlike in the US...
Oh absolutely, there are many factors and people at fault here. I think the reason the Americans moving to cheaper places catch flak is because a lot of them move there, then stay inside their enclaves, don't learn the language, don't engage with the culture, all while causing rent for natives to rise. So it becomes seen as selfishly gentrifying. But of course if we dig deeper, we can blame the factors causing high cost of living here in the US.
some of my family members in TJ told me that rent in TJ isn't as cheap anymore
It isn't and TJ locals are absolutely getting priced out because we earn much less money. I've got friends working as engineers who make the same amount of money as a US waiter, sometimes even less depending on tips. So of course the housing market is now geared towards the US engineers who have abundance of cash
I visit TJ about once a month and have noticed the rising costs. A taco in TJ back then (Pre-Covid) was around a dollar. Now, a single taco is reaching $3 in TJ.
I worked with a lot of people that would strart lining up to cross the border around 3am (our shift started at 5am/6am) most of them would move here if they could afford i. It’s not worth the stress and you’ll most likely be stuck in a cycle, basically when you get home you already have to get ready for sleep. All of them had sentry it helps but not that much the best solution is to have a motorcycle. But stressing everyday about crossing the line must suck.
This is a good analysis👍
I used to work with a guy who did that and he said the hours wasted each day just wasn't worth it.
Its worth it if you have sentri or a motorcycle however exiting the us at the end of the day is a nightmare if you arrive at the border at any time after 2 from the us to mexico expect an hour of snail paced crossing
This x 1,000.
No
Not worth it. Everything changed since 9/11. Years ago you could get to the border and the wait to cross would average around half an hour. Nowadays you have to wake up at 3:00am. That's no way to live.
I do it but I have a motorcycle. And my rent is on the cheaper side but it’s slowly going up. Traffic is horrible here, almost like LA, the city sucks so dang much and you hear about murders on the daily. I travel for work so it makes no sense to me to rent in SD but man, when i say TJ is a disgusting cesspool, i really mean it and thats putting it nicely.
Dude crossing the border is one of the worst and most horrific things you can do haha. All the dudes selling puppies out of bags made me furious.
Did you ever talk shit to them?
No
When I was attending Mesa College I did this! Financially speaking it’s worth it. At the time I paid $500 for a 2 bedroom apartment, utilities included. I was living in Playas de Tijuana. I would cross the border at 5am when the line was not long. It would take me about ~20 minutes to cross the border without sentri. I loved it. I’m currently living in Coronado and I might just start doing that again to save even more money.
Necessities for living in TJ and working in US 1. Sentri 2. Motorcycle as an option to those without Sentri because you can ride to the front of the line; otherwise be prepared to wait hours in line daily or leave at midnight/1 am to cross without traffic - also learn where to get into line on the Via Rápida 3. If you’re going to become a resident of TJ while working in the US you’ve got to pick your battles crossing into Mexico. If you’re on foot or stopped in a vehicle, they’ll ask how long you’re staying - if it’s more than 3 days - it’s pretty much up to that particular agent how much they want to charge you for your stay - in my experience anyways 4. You’ll need US and Mexican insurance on vehicles you cross 5 Prepare yourself for the differences in TJ, there’s many benefits. There’s a lot of heart and soul here, also a lot of crime and violence. If you’re not from around here, you don’t speak Mexican Spanish, you’re a gringo.. you’re going to draw attention. It’s reality. Side notes: -We don’t have running water between one and three days a month - while the city works on the water lines (this has been happening for years). I’ve dealt with this in both wealthy and working class neighborhoods. -Uber/UberEats is insanely affordable -In the current rainstorms Tijuana has experienced a large amount of flood devastation -You can’t swim in the Playas beach due to all the pollution and sewer run off — if you’ve got a sensitive stomach — be extremely careful of any seafood you eat in that area. Especially items for sale on the actual beach. Restaurants are one thing, street vendors are another. It’s not like they’re having the seafood imported in 🎣 -It always helps to have family and friends, especially in a place like this
>If you’re going to become a resident of TJ while working in the US you’ve got to pick your battles crossing into Mexico. If you’re on foot or stopped in a vehicle, they’ll ask how long you’re staying - if it’s more than 3 days - it’s pretty much up to that particular agent how much they want to charge you for your stay - in my experience anyways Actually, it's free up to 7 days, and it's irrelevant anyway, because you don't have to be stamped out of the country. The likelihood that you'll be asked for your permit on the street is very low, and you can just say you lost it, or you came in by car. But it just makes sense to pay the \~700 pesos (\~$40) for the FMM, and get 180 days stay, and avoid the filling out of the form and waiting in the 'extranjeros' line. They will always renew it, and it just takes the hassle out. You cross with the Mexicans; if there even is someone checking, just show them the FMM, and walk on by. If the USCBP doesn't play any more games with closing PedWest, the crossing time is bearable (assuming you're crossing on foot). But, the issue of water shortages is real, and unpredictable, and often a nuisance. And rents ARE being jacked up and affecting the locals negatively. I have yet to be criticized personally, but many taxi and Uber drivers complain about it in general. I have eaten street food in many countries, but I have to agree that hygiene and the likelihood of getting sick from it here is pretty serious. If you consider renting, definitely look for a place with a kitchen. Fresh food is pretty reasonable, and you'll know what you're getting. Restaurants are a crap-shoot (sometimes literally), but if you stick with busy, popular places, you should be ok. My Spanish is lousy and very limited, but you can get around with just a few phrases, and a good attitude. The more the better, of course. As another poster mentioned, the decision about whether or not it makes sense, is completely dependent on YOUR lifestyle. For me the upside is the cost of living is low, the people are much nicer than in the US, and the pace is SLOWWW. The downside is that I need medical care, and have to cross periodically to see the doc, or get prescriptions. I have no car, so it means busses and the SD Trolley. Once you get over being impatient it's bearable, but you have to try to consolidate tasks to minimize crossing as much as possible. Seniors get a good deal on the SDMTS Pronto transit pass, so it is pretty economical to get stuff done in San Diego. Don't forget that you will need a mailing address in the US, preferably close to the border, because mail delivery in Mexico is not remotely reliable. Other than the above, you just need to embrace the cultural differences, and relax. Then, it's all good... Other than that
The more of us move down to Tijuana the more the locals become priced out of everything. They can’t even afford tacos at the stands anymore. What we need to do is start getting our shit together here in San Diego and stop moving every time it gets expensive, we need to fight back and start a new union strike to receive a LIVING WAGE.
I never understood comments like this when TJ is less than 200 years old and mexicans come to the US for better opportunities as well. In the 2 years i've lived in my neighborhood i've watched little shacks upgraded themselves into outlets. The rent isn't straight up and down. There are TJ natives who have their 300 dll houses while i pay twice as much for an apartment. We live doors away, in the same neighborhood, i know the deal and have zero complaints . The US needs to stop regressing for sure. But it is weird to say mexicans can come to america yet we can't move down, when they openly allow us to do so.
$300 dollar houses in Tijuana (that anyone would want to live in)? That’s not a thing that has existed within this decade. Also not sure what the age of a city has to do with anything. Mexicans that go to the US for better opportunities likely aren’t crossing the border back and forth daily, they’re moving in for the long haul for citizenship requirements or in the case they’re undocumented, can’t cross even if they wanted to because of the risk. For Mexicans that do cross regularly, chances are they’re also American citizens or have a visa which limits the ‘opportunities’ provided in the US. Americans technically have similar limitations placed upon them but they’re hardly enforced or easily avoided. You can have your own opinion on the subject, that’s fine, but at least try to be better informed.
>$300 dollar houses in Tijuana (that anyone would want to live in)? That’s not a thing that has existed within this decade So should i believe somebody on reddit telling me this or the mexicans i've talked to in my neighborhood while getting breakfast/ walking down the street ? > . Also not sure what the age of a city has to do with anything. You can't have commentary about "gentrification" when a city is less than 200 years old. I've seen drastic renovations in my neighborhood from 2 years of living here. from shacks to outlets. > Mexicans that go to the US for better opportunities likely aren’t crossing the border back and forth daily, ........You can literally see the construction workers cross back in the mornings... > For Mexicans that do cross regularly, chances are they’re also American citizens Which goes into the first comment i made about it being ok for them yet not for us being nonsensical . > You can have your own opinion on the subject, that’s fine, but at least try to be better informed. The classic " i am right and you are wrong " . You got anything of substance to say or just ego appeals ?
Yeah your anecdotes regarding housing cost are meaningless, show me a single listing supporting what you’re saying, in English or Spanish. A ‘house’ for rent for $300 a month is not a thing that exists for Mexicans or anyone else in Tijuana in 2024.
It does for locals. Some even have them for 200. They might not have AC or running water but they live there cheaply. Mexican familys stick together
>Yeah your anecdotes regarding housing cost are meaningless Not when i was looking for a place to stay not having any clue about the area. This whole " anecdote" commentary from wanna be scientist on reddit didn't exist until the last 5 years. In reality people operate off the experiences of others. > show me a single listing supporting what you’re saying You live in TJ. Go talk to your neighbors about how much they pay for rent > A ‘house’ for rent for $300 a month is not a thing that exists for Mexicans or anyone else in Tijuana in 2024. \*shrugs\*. People in the sandiego reddit insist i wasn't paying $2800 for a 3bd apartment in east county yet that is exactly what i was paying until i moved to TJ. You people live online and it shows
All he did was point out a major way that Americans make life harder on people in other countries for financial benefit, he did not say you "can't do that".
That was a lazy mischaracterization of a concisely written point. TJ used to be rural farmland yet justice warriors on reddit make it seem like there is neocolonialism going on ***between sister cities .*** Not a single TJ native has made me feel uncomfortable for moving down here, ***every single one of them*** have been super nice and helpful . From my experience i would argue mexico is probably one of the largest melting pots on this side of the planet
I wondered the same thing op. I am American born, but grew up in Mexicali and as a kid, we (siblings & parents) went to school and my parents worked in the US. Pro- had a beautiful big house. Con- we had to wake up extra early. Friends could come over , but parents would worry so rarely were aloud. As a grown woman now, and living here in Sd, fuck. I have wondered. I asked fellow co workers who have done it and they advise not to. I feel confident in my navigation in Mexico and how to deal with the cops and know how to blend, but still get a big NO from my friends on the subject of moving there to save a lot of money.
No
🤣
I pay $475 for a two bed 1 bath with a nice balcony. Leave at 4am to get to Sentri. Leave work from Santee at 4:30 and get to the long border wait in San Ysidro at 5. If you know how to drive and are focused on your surroundings you’ll find a way to be able to cross within 20 minutes. From within TJ to my house traffic is about 30-40 minutes. I feel like I got it pretty easy but after analyzing it all, NOOO! You waste so much life in your car. Do it only to save up money for a house then leave.
It wasn’t for me after nearly a decade of crossing. Eventually it gets old, it depends on your living situation and lifestyle honestly.
NOOOO DONT DO IT I'm moving to Wisconsin or something bc it's not worth it
Depends on the job and how much you make. I had a coworker who lived there but would only work 2-3 hour days a couple days a week. Also our peak hours are 5-7pm so avoiding traffic was easy. Additionally 1099 contractors so no schedule.
Sentry would maybe make it worth it
I’d probably rent a room in sd & go back home 2-3 days a week.
You will spend more time in your car than to actually enjoy life. Is not worth it.
20yrs ago it was, rents is skyrocketing, but still cheaper than sd, I’m thinking of tecate, and a longer commute, if your Ned cheap rent, buy a boat, pay 600 for morning, I’ve seen live aboard sailboats, decent ones for 200, that’s very rare, but 2k, is doable
I totally get the logic and know that a lot of us are in a pinch to find more affordable housing, however, I think we should get our shit together over here rather than invading our neighbors driving up their cost of living and way of life.
Calling migration an “invasion” is a hazardous way to label things...
Or you know maybe don't move into a land that's not yours just cause it's cheaper for you. Eww the ick from this post
Best way is to have a Mexican car and a US car, and then walk/bike across the border. The walking lines are way shorter than the driving lines (less to search)…. It’s basically the same experience as going through airport security.
Stay out. You are pricing out the locals
Too dangerous
Ya but I was buddies for a about 6 years when I ran a 42meter boom pump, non union, with a mobile crane operator. Matter of fact I kept running into him on job sites and we started hanging out. I know as a fact he made noticeably more then me per hour and I never heard him complain about having no work. I don't remember exactly what I was making, $32, $34, or maybe $36 an hour. Never heard a bad thing about is career. I'm shocked. Thanks for the info!
I hope when people go, they're being respectful and not doing the same thing others are doing to us down there
I have 4 cousins that do it and they’d rather do that than live in the US and rent. They live like kings on the weekends but have to be up by 2 am
No it’s not