Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Report of what it's like to live there - 01/26/26
Personal Experiences from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
I have also lived in Beijing, Taipei, Shanghai, Malta, and Mumbai.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Washington, DC. No direct flights so it’s a long travel day when flying. That being said, anywhere is reachable from El Paso with a quick layover in Denver, Dallas, or Houston. I drove from DC to Juarez over several days so that I would have a vehicle.
3. What years did you live here?
2023-2025.
4. How long have you lived here?
About two years.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Housing is generally 3-4 bedroom single family homes with two car garages in gated communities. I was a 10 minute walk from the U.S. Consulate, and about 4 miles from the Zaragoza bridge to El Paso. Most of the housing is walkable to the consulate, though some of the larger houses are slightly further (~10 minute drive).
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
This area has a lower cost of living than the Washington, DC, area to be sure. Grocery stores in Juarez (S-Mart, Soriana) are great but with a different selection than American grocery stores in El Paso (Albertson’s, Costco, even Whole Foods, Sprouts, etc). Quality of produce is noticeably better in El Paso. Mexico has a relatively high sales tax, but so does Texas.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Not much, pretty much everything is available between the two sides of the border. One exception to that would be niche foreign cooking ingredients such as Chinese/Asian spices, sauces, oils, etc. There are a few Asian grocers between Juarez and El Paso but their selection was small. I recommend bringing or buying an outdoor grill. I really enjoyed having an outdoor fire pit in the winter. Bring good hiking shoes as there is lots of great hiking in West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There are some great restaurants in Juarez, some within walking distance of my house. Taqueria Ajiji, Los Fernandez, Tacos Baja were all highlights. For a very authentic experience, don’t miss El Michoacano on the El Paso side. I really enjoyed Kenchy’s (fried chicken etc). Little Caesar’s pizza and chicken wings are surprisingly popular in Juarez.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
I had some ants at one point, but after putting out ant buttons they went away without too much trouble. Mosquitoes can be an issue, which surprised me since it is the high desert, but there is a lot of standing water around the neighborhoods, especially after rain. Pigeons everywhere! My house was less affected, but pigeons bothered my friends with pooping all over the outside of their houses, etc.
Daily Life:
1. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Great availability and very affordable. I had a housekeeper come every two weeks and paid her 1000 pesos (~60 USD) per session. Friends had cooks, gardeners, etc. There are car washing and tire changing services in Juarez that will come to you.
2. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
There are excellent hiking/biking trails in El Paso that are perfectly safe and accessible. Juarez isn’t walkable except for within very specific neighborhoods. Juarez has Parque Central with an excellent running path. The path consists of two one mile loops, with bathrooms and parking adjacent.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There are great public gyms and lap pools in El Paso. Both Juarez and El Paso have commercial gyms that are fairly priced.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes to all, but don’t expect Discover or American Express to be accepted in Mexico.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
Just about everything is available in El Paso, not sure about English services on the Juarez side.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
You will want at least survival-level Spanish to be able to go to restaurants, grocery shopping, etc., in Juarez. Language classes/tutors are available and affordable.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes, sidewalks are not always present. Pedestrian infrastructure leaves much to be desired.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Yes, I mostly drove my own vehicle but used Uber around town and the airport taxis from the Juarez airport several times and it was fine. I recommend using Uber Comfort in Juarez (and all of Mexico and Latin America); it’s still cheap and you’re more likely to have seat belts.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
I brought a small all-wheel drive SUV. The speed bumps in Juarez are real (and not always well marked) so bring something with some ground clearance and NOT low-profile tires. Bring something comfortable for long road trips. I ended up doing road trips to San Diego, Denver, Santa Fe, Taos, Marfa, Albuquerque, Carlsbad Caverns, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon. The roads are wide open and the sun is shining out here. Regarding EVs, some people bring them and get by, but be aware that charging stations in this part of the world are few and far between.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, it was already working when I arrived.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Google Fi.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Yes, good veterinarians are available on both sides of the border. Kennel services, dog walkers, etc. all readily available. No quarantine necessary. It’s a great post to adopt a pet! Lots of sweet, well-behaved dogs in the shelters.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Many worked remotely or in the Consulate. One could get a job in El Paso very easily. Some spouses get teaching jobs in the El Paso schools. It’s normal for people in Juarez to cross the border daily for work or school.
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
There are organizations in Juarez and El Paso for volunteering, including the schools.
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Dress code at work is business casual for most. Mexico is a bit more formal than the USA in that men often wear pants rather than shorts, even when the weather is very warm. People here like to dress up and look nice when they go out.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Yes, but if you follow the guidance on travel.state.gov the risks are very low. My biggest safety concern was the drivers.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Wear your sunscreen. There is quality medical care available both in Juarez and in El Paso, but perhaps not at the level of a major American city.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Moderate. The car and truck traffic produce smog that some days can be significant. In the spring there are dust storms that last for a few hours and reduce visibility and can necessitate wearing an N95 outdoors. That being said, a drive up into the Franklin Mountains in El Paso or to White Sands or Ruidoso offers beautiful fresh air and clear skies.
4. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
Not that I know of. One thing I will say is that you’re a bit isolated from other major metropolitan areas. Albuquerque is the closest “big city” and it’s about a four hour drive from CJ. Tucson is about four and a half hours.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
It’s the high desert (about 4,000 ft above sea level), so low humidity, lots of sunny days and very hot and dry in the summer. BIG swings in temperature from overnight low to midday high. I saw a 40 degree swing in one day and it was normal to see a 30-35 degree swing. The winters get chilly for a couple of months but not cold. I personally loved the low humidity and cool nights with warm sunny days.
Expat Life:
1. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Picnics, BBQs, dinners or breakfasts out. Padel is getting big in Juarez.
2. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Yes to all of the above in my opinion. The houses may be a bit big for singles but people seem to enjoy it.
3. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Yes, it’s pretty good as far as I know.
4. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Mexico City is a gem of culture and light and life. Guadalajara is incredible as well. So much to eat, see, and do in both of those cities. I was shocked at how nice Tijuana is. It is much safer, prettier, and more developed than depicted in American popular culture. Ski Santa Fe is a delight. Don’t miss White Sands National Park in New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns and Marfa, TX, are also not to be missed.
5. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Go to a Bravos soccer match or a football game at UTEP. Check out Parque Central. The birria tacos at Los Fernandez in Juarez are well-worth it. The Alamo Cinema Drafthouse in El Paso is a fun spot to catch movies.
Believe it or not this is a skiing post. Ski Apache, Ski Santa Fe, and Taos are all within a day’s drive.
6. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Yes, all manner of things are available at the market in downtown Juarez. Also, Mexico City has even more and is a relatively quick direct flight away.
7. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Incredible sunny climate, fantastic Mexican food, and a much lower cost of living compared to the east or west coasts of the USA. Another advantage is the ability to take flights out of the Juarez airport when traveling to destinations in Mexico while using the El Paso airport for domestic US flights. In some ways a tour in CJ almost feels like a domestic tour in that I had a Costco on both sides of the border, a Whole Foods in El Paso, etc. It’s the best of both worlds in many ways. Having all of New Mexico and West Texas within a day’s drive is very enjoyable.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
I wish I had known how incredible the climate is. The morning sun is like nothing else. The low humidity is a dream. The history of this area is also incredibly rich and interesting.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Absolutely. This area is a gem.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Heavy winter wear, although it does come in handy if you plan to trek up into Santa Fe or Ruidoso, New Mexico. There aren’t many large bodies of water nearby so you can probably leave your kayaks, paddleboards, and boats behind. That being said, Elephant Butte Lake in New Mexico is nice and is an easy two hour drive from CJ.
4. But don't forget your:
Spanish skills, windshield shade, open mind, and a sense of adventure.
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
Breaking Bad; No Country for Old Men; One Battle After Another.
6. Do you have any other comments?
Serving in Ciudad Juarez was so much more enjoyable than I ever imagined it would be. The people, the food, the weather, the adventures in the American Southwest and flights to other parts of Mexico were highlights I won’t forget. CJ is a hidden gem.
