About me:  I started hobbying in Tijuana before the turn of the century.  I have lived in downtown Tijuana for over a decade and travel throughout the city without incident.

Tijuana is still safe for hobbyists.  But not as safe as in years past.

In the first six months of this year the homicide rate is triple what it was last year.  However, unless you are in the drug trade that doesn't mean what many fear because the deaths are the result of a cartel war with "druggies killing druggies."  Much like in Al Capon's era it was bootleggers killing other bootleggers.

In the last decade, before this year began, I only know of three cases of innocent people getting killing in the crossfire.  The rate is up this year, although you can still count on your fingers the number of innocent people killed by stray bullets, which is why I said Tijuana is safe, but not as safe as it was in years past.  .(In spite of negative ink in the media TJ is still substantially safer than comparative parts of Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Detroit, etc.)

How much money you need depends on if you are a "champagne drinker" or a "beer drinker."  Hotel prices run from under $50.00 a night (for a dump) to over $150.00 (for a great room).  They also depend on things like which day, day of the week, membership in things like AAA, etc.

If you are going to spend the night with an escort on a weekday La Mansion for around $30.00 is a great choice. for a luxury room.  However, most "love motels" don't provide in-and-out privileges so they aren't what a hobbyist should select if he also wants to go to dinner, visit the Zona, etc.  Also, most "love motels" also have a four hour limit on Fridays and Saturdays.  You can get exact rate information on-line or by calling places like the Ticuan, Agua Rio, Valarios, etc.  

Escorts from the top agencies (which IMO in alphabetical order are Cumintj, HotTijuana, and MexicoLindoBar) will cost between about $125.00 to $150.00 for the first hour for a true GFE session.  Eight hour overnight GFE dates from the top tier agencies will run $300.00 to $400.00.

Bar girls want a lot more than the $60.00 that for many years was the going rate.  Hong Kong sexoservadoras typically want $100.00 for a 20-30 minute session that usually is not a GFE.  IMO the price difference between escorts and bar girls has reached the point there is no reason--other than wanting to drink or see girls strip--to patronize bar girls.

Street Girls (paraditas) can be obtained for as low as $20.00 (and maybe even less).  However, the sessions are typically rushed (say 10-15 minutes) and of the poorest quality.  (No DFK, BBBJ, etc. is the norm.)  Also paraditas are famous for up-selling once you're in the room.  For example,  SG often wants a surcharge to do more than pull one leg out of her pants while you "do the deed." If you are seeing SGs discuss EVERYTHING before going upstairs.

That's about as good as I can answer price and safety related questions without more details.  If you have other questions please post them.