Prices in Tijuana, Are they still reasonable in 2025

Prices have gone up for drinks, arribas Hotel, food. But it's still a good deal compared to the US.

Most girls are asking like 120 sometimes 150 even 200 for sex. But sometimes they will say yes to a lower offer depending on the girl... But definitely YMMV.

If you eat in Senda Norte or Azul use your VIP card to get a 20% discount. and out on the street I would imagine that they're asking $2 US now for a taco. Been a while since I've had a street taco. Basically as a rule of thumb You're going to spend half as much for food as you would in the US.

and use your $70 Hong Kong VIP card for a 20% hotel discount at cascada or Rizo.

I usually go on Monday and Tuesday nights and get a 70% hotel discount.

But it ain't like it used to be... When I first started visiting TJ with the VIP card I could have a single room for $11 Monday or Tuesday nights. Now I think it's more like $26 a night for Monday or Tuesday night for a standard single room.

And be sure to count the number of drinks in the fridge because you're going to have to pay through the nose for any missing or used drinks.
$40 (or more depending on the room) cash deposit required at check-in. And don't lose that deposit slip. Otherwise it's going to cost you your deposit money.

and be aware of the most dangerous criminals in Tijuana... The TJ Bandits with badges.

-- Everything Jascoi said is spot on. Why wouldn't he be, he has hundreds of trips so he knows.

I literally just got back a few hours ago. To add to Jascoi,
Arribas are mostly $120 for 45 minutes. It will be an hour because they need 10-15 to shower and get ready again.

I was quoted, $120 for one in HK on Monday. Then in the late morning time Tuesday I was with @Zbott and he was offered $120. The one I was with at that time initially offered $140. I replied $140??? She quickly said for you (yeah right, I'm not special) $120. Then she followed up anything you think is fair is fine. We did have like 3 fichas and I tipped her dollar bills for services at the table.

That night, I had an arriba who I had multiple sessions with before so we didn't discuss price but our initial arriba in another trip was offered $120.

So the theme I'm getting at is $120 is just expected price. The only time I paid $150 was getting in at 7am. It is harder to find service/attitude and looks. I probably could have gotten it down but we were (well at least I was) hot and heavy rearing to go and she was a more sexually open lady even verbally.
Hindsight that was probably a mistake because there were very few patrons.

-- Your VIP card is good for 20% but only once per day. Regardless, the prices are reasonable and the food is decent.

Depending on prospective but I didn't like it, this week Azul now draws down large sun shades in the day to block the sun on the balcony basically blocking the view of the street girls and action down there.

Oh, the missing drinks in the refrigerator Jascoi mentioned happened to me a few months ago in December. I usually check but I was slipping a bit I guess. They wanted to charge me by subtracting from the deposit.

I told them, I didn't take their beers, I made an Oxxo run. They said "you want us to check again, you have to wait longer". I said I'll wait, count the beers in the trash. None have a sticker and it should be a six pack with a six pack ring. After I said, it did come to mind and I told them, I guess technically I could have bought the 6 pack and disposed the ones with HK stickers somewhere, so I don't know. They said ok, no problem and just gave back the full $50 deposit. That was the only time it happened to me but it happened.

Yes as I found out the hard way lately The sticker counts. Didn't used to be.

Bottom line.
.inconsistency is consistent.

Having curtains on the Azul patio kinda defeats the purpose of having a patio (in my opinion).

@Jascoi - it does totally kill the view which I agree sucks but it was nice to eat during perfect temperature in open air to have an "outside" break. Silver lining I guess.

Shockingly enough, @HK the girl I was sitting with across from Zbott asked for $100 tip ( no $120/$150, their usual ). No clue as to why so low compared to HK standards, maybe it could have been the two tequila shots I bought her or simply YMMV. IMO @ HK $100 tip for a girl isn’t common, but it still exists.

Regarding the hotel rooms, if you are a frequent visitor of Zona then purchasing a VIP card helps especially on Monday/Tuesday’s.

Thanks everyone.

I already marked the OXXO on my map. I need a place to buy drinks (no alcohol) after a long trip.

I already know about the VIP card since everyone TJ poster has talked about it for years. The only problem with it is that the value keeps decreasing. I went to the TJ Norte Reddit. It used to be 6 months once upon a time. I believe the time duration is at a week?

I can't go on Monday and Tuesday, I have other trips planned and it's rough getting back to work mid week.

At least the last time I was there in late January the life of the VIP card is 3 months now. I haven't done the math at the current rate but in the past if you stay two or three nights on Monday and Tuesday you are ahead to buy the VIP card.
and especially if you take a girl or two Ariba per night You're definitely ahead paying the VIP
discounted hotel rate in comparison to the short time room rate.

Back when I my first VIP card over 10 years ago it was good for 4 months and only cost $50.

The VIP card is valid and probably worth it if you are staying 2 or more nights in a 3 month period, even if not on Monday or Tuesday. The cheapest room at Cascadas is $150 a night on weekends. For two nights, the VIP card would save you 20% or $60. Then you get 2-4 free drinks in the club and you're past breaking even on the $70 cost. If you're on a tight budget, stay at the Rizo where the rooms are slightly cheaper and the VIP card is only $50.

If you go with a more expensive room, like a room with a jacuzzi, the savings will definitely far outweigh the cost. Especially on a Mon/Tue but other nights too.

Also @Owlyoung_ggofv, I don't think anyway has answered your question on what Azul and Senda Norte cost. They both service decent food (think like a slightly better mexican applebees) and are fairly cheap. Like plan on $25 including tip for a meal and drink for just you, maybe $50 if you take a chica there (which is a high value play and cheap way to spend time with a chica.) The service and ambiance is better at Azul, where you can sit on the balcony and people watch paraditas, mongers, and locals scurrying around below in the alley behind Hong Kong. I recommend the spicy shrimp tacos con queso!

Senda having slow service is actually a good option if you are with a chica and want to maximize your time.

Also, there is a difference between "Restaurante Azul" and "Azul Sports Bar." They serve the same menu. The former has the awesome balcony. The later is all indoors but does have TVs for sports watching, and also sometimes there's chicas milling about the bar too. The sports bar is on the 2nd floor in the back of Cascadas hotel. To get to Restaurante Azul, you have to go out the alley side door from Cascadas, leave the hotel briefly, take a left, and at the next door go upstairs. I mention this because on my maiden voyage, I completely missed Azul, thinking I was in it at the sports bar.

Make sure you give them your VIP card when you get the bill, for the 20% discount. I forget half the time.

I've found that the street tacos at the vendor at the corner of Calle Coahuila and Av. Niños Heróes to be absolutely fucking spectacular, however my CF insists the tacos are made from dogs. If that's true those are some delicious and sanitary puppers because I've always enjoyed and never gotten sick eating there. YMMV.

Outside the Zona Norte if you're willing to take a cab, there are some great restaurants to explore in Tijuana. But you'll definitely be fine with your plan to eat at the hotel restaurants and street vendors for a few nights. You can also get room service 24/7 from Senda or Azul sent to either Rizo or Cascadas!

Ever since Tropical bar raised their prices from $30 for their VIP card (now $50) I buy only the Hong Kong VIP card. I get more value out of the HK card. The tropical VIP card is not usable in Cascada or Hong Kong Club.

I just do it based on where I'm staying. I get the $50 BT card if I'm at the Rizo and the $70 HK card if I'm Cas. There's pros and cons to Rizo and Cas I think, but the free drink being at BT not HK is not a big deal to me. It kind of gives one a reason to check BT for diamonds in the rough at the start of the evening.

Your Hong Kong card gives you the same room discount in Rizo.

I always check out tropical bar anyway. There are some excellent girls sometimes there.

But usually I spend more of my time at Hong Kong than anywhere else in Tijuana.

And if you check the websites for both clubs you'll find some handy coupons you can use besides the VIP card.

Just be sure to tip the VIP people and don't abuse the privileges. I tip a dollar.

Your Hong Kong card gives you the same room discount in Rizo.

Interesting @jascoi, I didn't know that. What about the reverse? Can you buy a $50 BT card and use it for the 70 or 20% hotel discount at Cascadas?

Also, how often can you get the free drink? I usually just get one a day but I think it's more frequent that they allow it?

I always check out tropical bar anyway. There are some excellent girls sometimes there.

Yeah, 90% of the time I strike out at BT and move on to HK. However, the one time I didn't strike out, I hit a home run with an amazingly cute and petite Chiapaneca. An amazing time, and I think to date, it's the least I've ever paid for a long arriba. I think IIRC she only wanted $300 for a 2 hour arriba. After that mind-blowing experience, I always check BT!

You cannot use your tropical VIP card at Cascada (Unless Rizo is totally booked.) But you have to get clearance and approval from the hotel managers for Cascada to approve discount using the tropical VIP card. Sometimes it's only for one night.
I never have a problem getting a free drink every 12 hours. for 20 bucks more I feel the Hong Kong VIP card gives me more options.

Thanks for the advice guys. It's gives me a good idea on how much I should save for food expenses.

The only expensive part of going to TJ is the plane ticket. That's only a problem depends on how far away you live from the border and the local airlines.

When I'm at my usual Arizona casa it takes 6 hours to drive to catch the trolley in San Ysidro/ Imperial Beach area to the border. Sure I could drive from my house in Arizona to Las Vegas... Go through security after finding parking... Shit I'm halfway to the border by that time. And I have my freakin car to get to the coffee shops that I like in the OC on the way back to my casa.

I hardly ever fly unless I have to.