I am thinking about moving to Tijuana for at least a year how much are houses to rent? Where in Tijuana do most foreigners live?
Bueno, primero, tengo que preguntarte si entiendes o hablas español. If you don't speak or at least understand a little Spanish you are asking for difficulties. Or at least, you will be stuck in a corner with other foreigners.
But then again, difficulties can be a challenge. If you want to learn more language, there is no better way than to live in the country where that language is The Language. Sure, people up there in Bagdadbythebay speak Spanish, but English is The Language of Power. That is why we crossed over the line -- for the language. Here, Spanish is The Language of Power. And it is everywhere. Furthermore, the people here (especially away from Revolution Avenue) will truly appreciate your interest and desire to learn more about them and their language. But your question where do most foreigners live bothers me, because they come here and stay in their foreign colonies and speak mostly English, no? Well, to answer your question, they mostly live in Rosarito, in neighborhoods of very nice houses you can get an idea at real estate websites like those listed at http://209.15.138.224/inmomex/b_baja_norte1.htm (not a bad list, actually, I surf some of them myself, dreaming of buying... but there are some rentals too).
The way to "own" (quote-unquote "own") land here is through a legal device known as a fideicomiso. There is also a problem with title and proof of title. Foreigners have been defrauded before and will be again. Not such a big problem if you are renting, because you know it's not yours, anyway.
Aside from searching the internet, another way to rent is to read the newspaper classified ads. They will tell you that houses in Tijuana rent from 2000 to 10,000 pesos a month, or 200 to 1000 dollars. Apartments run a similar range. The greater bulk of units with electricity and water will run you two to five hundred for two or three bedrooms.
There IS a problem with crime. Housebreaking, burglary, robbery, and so a lot of places have bars on the windows and doors. If you have a car you Need to WORRY about it being stolen. We do not keep a car in Tijuana, except for Philip has his truck but when he comes down he watches it like a hawk, or sometimes parks it in my landlord's parking lot next to the restaurant.
WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DO is think about what you want. THINK very carefully about What Kind of Neighborhood do you WANT to live in. Do you want to live out on the beach removed from everything but your own local neighborhood of gringos and Mexicans? Or do you want to live in a city with all its services and shops and transportation and restaurants and bars? Do you like going out at night to party? Do you want to go to the movies?
The BEST combination of City and Beautiful Environment would NOT be Tijuana, incidentally. It would be Ensenada. Right on the coast, sixty miles south of the border, still in the visa-free zone, an important harbour, a totally party town, spectacular ocean scenery. We at Tijuanagringo -- my identical cousin and me -- live in Tijuana for, well, sociological reasons. It is THE Big City on the Line. That and having most of our family right there over in San Diego, it is easier to go see them, without the extra two hour bus trip to Ensenada (from the terminal de la linea right near the border gate, like eight dollars one-way).
One final consideration: if you have legal problems in the U.S. or are going to have them and are thinking about running away well, forget it. You will have very few protections here, since you are a foreigner and can be thrown out at any time, or arrested and thrown into jail and held there until they throw you out, or hand you over to U.S. agents who will happily tell you that now you have no rights at all, sucker, since you aint in the U.S. any more. It's all true and it's all lies, as is usual with the government anywhere.
The only reason you will be allowed to stay, the only reason we are allowed to stay, is we contribute to the society and culture and economy. If you pay rent and buy food and be courteous and friendly you will become an appreciated part of the society, a good foreigner. But you will, like we are, always remain a foreigner.
Think very seriously about living here, and then, if you still want to, come down again several times. Spend a couple nights. Visit Ensenada, which has a climate weirdly similar to San Francisco, fog and chill and then lots of hot days. It has to do with deep ocean currents welling up to the surface offshore, according to what I have read. Damn good seafood.