Most rentals in Baja come with water and electricity already connected. You only need to set up internet yourself by visiting a Telnor, TotalPlay, or Megacable office with your passport.
How Does Electricity Work in Baja?
CFE (Comision Federal de Electricidad) is the only electricity provider in Mexico. It is the same in Baja California and Baja California Sur. There is no choosing a provider. CFE is it.
If you rent, the electricity is almost always already connected. The account stays in the landlord’s name or the previous tenant’s name. You just pay the bills. CFE does not care whose name is on the account as long as someone pays. Your landlord will hand you the account number or the most recent bill with the service number (numero de servicio) printed on it.
If you buy property or need a new connection, visit the nearest CFE office. In Tijuana, the main CFE office is on Boulevard Diaz Ordaz in Zona Rio. In Ensenada, CFE is on Calle Novena near downtown. In La Paz, the CFE office is on Calle 5 de Mayo. In Cabo San Lucas, it is on Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas.
Bring your passport, proof of address (rental contract or property deed), and the previous account number if one exists. CFE charges a connection fee that varies by property type. Expect 500 to 1,500 pesos depending on whether the property already has a meter.
How Do You Pay Your CFE Bill?
CFE bills arrive every two months. The bill lists your consumption in kilowatt-hours and the amount owed. Baja California qualifies for the 1F summer subsidy tariff in most areas due to extreme heat. This lowers your rate significantly from June through October.
You can pay at any OXXO. Just hand the cashier your bill or give them your service number. You can also pay at Walmart, Coppel, or any CFE payment kiosk. For online payment, register at app.cfe.mx or download the CFE Contigo app. Both accept Mexican debit and credit cards.
If you only have a US credit card, use Xoom (a PayPal service) to pay your CFE bill online. The fee is $4.99 USD per transaction. Many expats in Baja use Xoom until they open a Mexican bank account.
A typical two-month CFE bill in Baja runs 400 to 1,200 pesos ($22 to $65 USD) for a one or two-bedroom apartment. If you run air conditioning heavily in summer, expect 2,000 to 5,000 pesos ($110 to $275 USD) for that billing cycle. The summer subsidy helps, but AC is still the biggest electricity cost on the peninsula.
How Does Water Service Work?
Water is managed by municipal agencies, not a federal one. Every city has its own water company with its own office, billing system, and payment process.
In Tijuana, water comes from CESPT (Comision Estatal de Servicios Publicos de Tijuana). Their main office is on Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas 15953 in Zona Rio. CESPT has an app for checking your balance and paying online. Bills arrive monthly.
In Ensenada, the water agency is CESPE (Comision Estatal de Servicios Publicos de Ensenada). Their office is on Avenida Riveroll near Calle 5. Water service in Ensenada is less reliable than Tijuana. Some neighborhoods, particularly Punta Banda and El Sauzal, rely on water trucks (pipas) during dry months.
In La Paz, water is managed by OOMSAPAS (Organismo Operador Municipal del Sistema de Agua Potable, Alcantarillado y Saneamiento). Their office is on Boulevard Luis Donaldo Colosio in Colonia Donceles 28. Phone: (612) 123-7900. They have a mobile app called SAPA Movil for checking balances.
In Los Cabos, OOMSAPAS Los Cabos handles water service. Their office is in San Jose del Cabo on Calle Zaragoza. Water pressure in Los Cabos varies by neighborhood. Many homes use tinaco (rooftop tanks) and cisterns to maintain pressure during low-flow hours.
Like electricity, water accounts in rentals typically stay in the landlord’s name. You pay the bills. If you need a new connection, visit the local water office with your passport, proof of address, and property documents. Connection fees range from 1,000 to 5,000 pesos depending on the municipality and whether infrastructure already reaches the property.
What About Drinking Water?
Do not drink the tap water anywhere in Baja. This is not optional advice. The water treatment infrastructure does not produce potable tap water. Every household uses garrafones, the large 20-liter jugs that get delivered or refilled.
A garrafon costs 25 to 40 pesos ($1.50 to $2.25 USD). Delivery services like Bonafont, Ciel, and local purificadoras bring them to your door. Most neighborhoods have a purificadora (water purification shop) within walking distance where you can refill your own jug for 10 to 15 pesos. In Tijuana, Aqua Purificada shops are on nearly every block in residential areas.
How Do You Set Up Internet?
Internet is the one utility you will need to contract yourself. It does not transfer with a rental. You choose a provider, schedule installation, and the technician shows up (usually within a week).
Internet in Baja California (Tijuana, Ensenada, Mexicali)
Telnor is the dominant provider in BC. They are owned by America Movil (same parent company as Telcel) and offer fiber-optic service in most of Tijuana and Ensenada. Plans start around 399 pesos per month ($22 USD) for 50 Mbps. Their 200 Mbps plan runs about 599 pesos ($33 USD). Telnor includes a landline phone and Claro Video with most plans. Visit telnor.com or any Telnor store to check coverage at your address.
TotalPlay offers fiber in Tijuana with speeds up to 500 Mbps. Their base plan starts around 489 pesos ($27 USD) for 100 Mbps. The 500 Mbps plan costs approximately 1,399 pesos ($77 USD). TotalPlay’s installation fee ranges from free to 1,500 pesos depending on the current promotion. Coverage is strong in Playas de Tijuana, Zona Rio, and newer developments.
Megacable covers Tijuana, Ensenada, and Mexicali with cable-based internet. Plans start around 399 pesos for 60 Mbps. Megacable is a solid backup if Telnor or TotalPlay do not reach your street.
Internet in Baja California Sur (La Paz, Los Cabos)
Telnor does not operate in BCS. Your main options are TotalPlay, Megacable, and Telmex (Telnor’s sister company under America Movil).
TotalPlay has expanded aggressively in Los Cabos and parts of La Paz. If fiber reaches your address, this is generally the fastest and most reliable option. Megacable covers most of La Paz and the Los Cabos corridor. Telmex Infinitum offers DSL and some fiber in BCS, but speeds tend to be slower than TotalPlay or Megacable in the same area.
In rural BCS or newer developments, satellite internet (HughesNet or Starlink) may be the only option. Starlink costs about $599 USD for the equipment plus approximately $50 USD per month. Several expat communities in the East Cape and Todos Santos use Starlink because no wired provider reaches them.
What Do You Need to Sign Up for Internet?
Visit a provider’s store or call their sales line. You need a passport or INE (Mexican ID), proof of address (a rental contract works), and a Mexican phone number for the account. Most providers accept credit card autopay. Some require a Mexican debit card.
Installation usually happens within three to seven days. The technician brings the modem and router. You do not need to buy your own equipment. If the technician says your street has no coverage, try a different provider before giving up. Coverage maps are often inaccurate. The only way to know for sure is to ask the technician to check the physical infrastructure.
What Does a Typical Monthly Utility Budget Look Like?
For a one or two-bedroom apartment in Baja, expect these monthly costs. Electricity: 200 to 600 pesos ($11 to $33 USD), remembering that CFE bills bimonthly. Water: 100 to 300 pesos ($5.50 to $16 USD). Internet: 399 to 599 pesos ($22 to $33 USD). Drinking water garrafones: 100 to 200 pesos ($5.50 to $11 USD). Total: roughly 800 to 1,700 pesos ($44 to $93 USD) per month.
Summer AC can double or triple the electricity portion. Properties with solar panels (increasingly common in Los Cabos and La Paz) cut electricity costs dramatically.
Regulations and government processes change. This article reflects information current as of March 2026. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant or contact the relevant government office directly.