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Colombia price guide

Prices in Colombia in 2026: fair price vs tourist trap

Short answer: about average, if you pay what locals pay. Fair prices sit right around the 60-country median, while tourist prices are about 2.6× the fair price.

29 prices checked Apr – Aug 2026 9 verified and 20 estimates How I check

Fair prices at a glance

All 29 prices are also in the free app for iPhone and Android, and they work offline. Get it

One day in Colombia: COL$95,000 or COL$223,500

About $31 or $73 a day.

The first number is what locals pay, the second what tourist spots charge for exactly the same day.

Same day, same things: the tourist version costs 2.4× as much.

Restaurant meal alone: COL$115,000, or 51% of the tourist-trap day.

+COL$128,500 (about $42) for the same day

What's in the day. Middle of each range
Item Fair (COL$) Trap (COL$)
Street food meal 8,500 20,000
Restaurant meal 57,500 115,000
Coffee (espresso) 4,500 18,500
Water 1.5 L 2,750 5,500
Local beer 9,000 30,000
Public transit ticket 2 rides 7,200 12,000
Short taxi ride about 1 km 5,550 22,500
Total 95,000 223,500
  • Sightseeing comes on top: a ticket to a top museum or attraction is COL$10,000 –⁠ COL$30,000 (about $3.30 –⁠ $9.80).
  • Accommodation is left out on purpose: it swings too much with the season and the night of the week for one honest number.

Where tourists overpay most in Colombia

Tourist-trap price compared with the fair price, using the middle of each range.

  1. 1 Coffee (espresso) Fair COL$3,000 – COL$6,000 Trap COL$12,000 – COL$25,000 Tourist prices are about 4.1× the fair price
  2. 2 City taxi 1 km Fair COL$4,600 – COL$6,500 Trap COL$15,000 – COL$30,000 Tourist prices are about 4.1× the fair price
  3. 3 Water 0.5 L Fair COL$2,000 – COL$4,000 Trap COL$8,000 – COL$15,000 Tourist prices are about 3.8× the fair price

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about $6.50

Tourist-trap price

Fair COL$4,600 – COL$6,500 Trap COL$15,000 – COL$30,000

COL$20,000 is 3.6× the middle of the fair range (COL$4,600 –⁠ COL$6,500).

Tourists often get charged COL$15,000 –⁠ COL$30,000. From COL$15,000 you are paying the tourist-trap price.

In the app, every expense you log on a trip gets the same check, offline.

Fair vs tourist prices in Colombia, item by item

What 29 everyday things should cost, and what tourists often pay instead. Typical for Cartagena, Medellín, Bogotá, and Santa Marta.

Show prices in
  • Fair price
  • Tourist-trap price
  • Verified
  • Estimate

Bars run from zero to each item's top tourist-trap price.

Food & drinks 8 prices, up to 4.1×

Restaurant meal: fair is COL$35,000 –⁠ COL$80,000. Above COL$80,000 you are on the tourist menu.

  • Water 0.5 L

    Bottled, convenience store

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 3.8× the fair price
    Fair COL$2,000 – COL$4,000 ≈ $0.65 – $1.30
    Trap COL$8,000 – COL$15,000 ≈ $2.60 – $4.90

  • Coffee (espresso)

    Cafe or street vendor

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 4.1× the fair price
    Fair COL$3,000 – COL$6,000 ≈ $0.98 – $2
    Trap COL$12,000 – COL$25,000 ≈ $3.90 – $8.20

  • Local beer

    Draft, at bar or restaurant

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 3.3× the fair price
    Fair COL$6,000 – COL$12,000 ≈ $2 – $3.90
    Trap COL$20,000 – COL$40,000 ≈ $7 – $13

  • Restaurant meal

    Tourist area, main course

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.0× the fair price
    Fair COL$35,000 – COL$80,000 ≈ $11 – $26
    Trap COL$80,000 – COL$150,000 ≈ $26 – $49

  • Street food meal

    Local market or stand

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.4× the fair price
    Fair COL$5,000 – COL$12,000 ≈ $1.60 – $3.90
    Trap COL$15,000 – COL$25,000 ≈ $4.90 – $8.20

  • Cocktail at bar

    Mixed drink, bar

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 1.6× the fair price
    Fair COL$25,000 – COL$40,000 ≈ $8 – $13
    Trap COL$40,000 – COL$65,000 ≈ $13 – $21

  • Bottle of wine (restaurant)

    House wine, restaurant

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair price
    Fair COL$21,740 – COL$43,480 ≈ $7 – $14
    Trap COL$65,220 – COL$130,440 ≈ $21 – $43

  • Fresh juice

    Cafe or street stall

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.1× the fair price
    Fair COL$3,000 – COL$8,000 ≈ $0.98 – $2.60
    Trap COL$8,000 – COL$15,000 ≈ $2.60 – $4.90
Transport 4 prices, up to 4.1×

Airport taxi to the center: fair is COL$25,000 –⁠ COL$70,000. At COL$80,000 or more, walk away.

  • Airport taxi to center

    Standard route

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 2.4× the fair price
    Fair COL$25,000 – COL$70,000 ≈ $8 – $23
    Trap COL$80,000 – COL$150,000 ≈ $26 – $49

  • City taxi 1 km

    Metered or typical fare

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 4.1× the fair price
    Fair COL$4,600 – COL$6,500 ≈ $1.50 – $2.10
    Trap COL$15,000 – COL$30,000 ≈ $4.90 – $9.80

  • Public transit ticket

    Single ride

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 1.7× the fair price
    Fair COL$3,500 – COL$3,700 ≈ $1.10 – $1.20
    Trap COL$5,000 – COL$7,000 ≈ $1.60 – $2.30

  • Private transfer (app)

    Grab / Bolt / Uber

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 3.8× the fair price
    Fair COL$8,000 – COL$20,000 ≈ $2.60 – $6.50
    Trap COL$35,000 – COL$70,000 ≈ $11 – $23
Souvenirs 3 prices, up to 3.7×

Fridge magnet: fair is COL$4,000 –⁠ COL$15,000. Above COL$15,000 you are paying the souvenir-stall markup.

  • Fridge magnet

    Tourist shop

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.6× the fair price
    Fair COL$4,000 – COL$15,000 ≈ $1.30 – $4.90
    Trap COL$15,000 – COL$35,000 ≈ $5 – $11

  • Printed T-shirt

    Tourist shop

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.8× the fair price
    Fair COL$20,000 – COL$45,000 ≈ $7 – $15
    Trap COL$60,000 – COL$120,000 ≈ $20 – $39

  • Local handcraft

    Ceramics, textiles, etc.

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 3.7× the fair price
    Fair COL$30,000 – COL$120,000 ≈ $10 – $39
    Trap COL$150,000 – COL$400,000 ≈ $49 – $130
Daily essentials 6 prices, up to 3.1×

Tourist SIM: fair is COL$30,000 –⁠ COL$60,000. From COL$100,000 it is the tourist-kiosk price.

  • Tourist SIM card

    Data package

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 3.1× the fair price
    Fair COL$30,000 – COL$60,000 ≈ $10 – $20
    Trap COL$100,000 – COL$180,000 ≈ $33 – $59

  • Sunscreen SPF50

    Pharmacy or shop

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.7× the fair price
    Fair COL$20,000 – COL$40,000 ≈ $7 – $13
    Trap COL$60,000 – COL$100,000 ≈ $20 – $33

  • Water 1.5 L

    Supermarket

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.0× the fair price
    Fair COL$2,000 – COL$3,500 ≈ $0.65 – $1.10
    Trap COL$4,000 – COL$7,000 ≈ $1.30 – $2.30

  • Cigarettes

    Pack of 20

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 1.6× the fair price
    Fair COL$9,000 – COL$12,000 ≈ $2.90 – $3.90
    Trap COL$13,000 – COL$20,000 ≈ $4.20 – $6.50

  • Painkillers (paracetamol)

    Pack of 20 tablets

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair price
    Fair COL$2,700 – COL$9,000 ≈ $0.88 – $2.90
    Trap COL$10,000 – COL$25,000 ≈ $3.30 – $8.20

  • Mosquito repellent

    Spray or lotion

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 1.8× the fair price
    Fair COL$13,000 – COL$28,000 ≈ $4.20 – $9.10
    Trap COL$28,001 – COL$45,000 ≈ $9 – $15
Services 4 prices, up to 2.9×

One-hour massage: fair is COL$60,000 –⁠ COL$150,000. Above COL$150,000 you are paying for the address.

  • Men's haircut

    Local barbershop

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.3× the fair price
    Fair COL$15,000 – COL$35,000 ≈ $5 – $11
    Trap COL$45,000 – COL$70,000 ≈ $15 – $23

  • Laundry (per kg)

    Laundry service

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 2.4× the fair price
    Fair COL$9,000 – COL$16,000 ≈ $2.90 – $5.20
    Trap COL$20,000 – COL$40,000 ≈ $7 – $13

  • Massage (1 hour)

    Standard full-body massage

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.1× the fair price
    Fair COL$60,000 – COL$150,000 ≈ $20 – $49
    Trap COL$150,001 – COL$300,000 ≈ $49 – $98

  • Women's haircut

    Basic cut, salon

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.9× the fair price
    Fair COL$15,000 – COL$60,000 ≈ $5 – $20
    Trap COL$70,000 – COL$150,000 ≈ $23 – $49
Attractions 4 prices, up to 3.3×

Top museum or attraction: fair is COL$10,000 –⁠ COL$30,000. From COL$40,000, check that you are not buying through a reseller.

  • Top museum / attraction

    Entrance ticket

    Verified ·
    Tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair price
    Fair COL$10,000 – COL$30,000 ≈ $3.30 – $9.80
    Trap COL$40,000 – COL$80,000 ≈ $13 – $26

  • Half-day group tour

    Organized excursion

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 3.3× the fair price
    Fair COL$80,000 – COL$150,000 ≈ $26 – $49
    Trap COL$250,000 – COL$500,000 ≈ $82 – $165

  • Full-day group tour

    Organized excursion 6-8h

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 1.8× the fair price
    Fair COL$120,000 – COL$200,000 ≈ $39 – $65
    Trap COL$220,000 – COL$350,000 ≈ $72 – $115

  • Cooking class

    Local cuisine cooking class

    Estimate, reviewed
    Tourist prices are about 2.5× the fair price
    Fair COL$80,000 – COL$200,000 ≈ $26 – $65
    Trap COL$250,000 – COL$450,000 ≈ $82 – $145

Converted at 1 USD = 3,060 COP, the rate on October 3, 2026. Approximate.

Money and tipping in Colombia

Currency

Colombian peso (COP)

  • 1 USD = 3,060 COP

Rate as of October 3, 2026

Quick converter, COP to USD

$16

Approximate. Your card or exchange booth adds its own margin.

When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, choose COP. The rate it offers is almost always worse.

Tipping in Colombia

Colombian restaurants often suggest a 10% "propina voluntaria" on the bill, you can accept or decline it. In Bogotá and Medellín, leaving the suggested amount is increasingly common and appreciated by waitstaff.

Bargaining in Colombia

Bargaining is common at Colombia's artisan markets and street stalls, especially in tourist areas of Cartagena and Salento. A friendly approach works best, smile, start 20–30% below the asking price, and be prepared to meet in the middle.

Fuel prices per liter

  • Gasoline COL$4,196.64 / liter ≈ $1.40
  • Diesel COL$2,990.43 / liter ≈ $0.98

Fuel prices as of

Scams and safety in Colombia

What tourists actually run into, from overcharging tricks to local laws. Open any item for the details.

Scam or crime Medellín 'Tinder trap' dating-app robberies

In Medellin, especially El Poblado and Laureles, criminals use Tinder, Bumble and Grindr to lure visitors to apartments and drug their drinks with scopolamine. Victims wake with their cards drained. Government travel advisories report a rise in deaths linked to dating apps, in Bogota and Cartagena as well as Medellin. Never meet a first date in private, stay in a high floor hotel with CCTV, and split your daily card limits across two wallets.

Scam or crime Bogotá street corner fake-police shakedown

In Bogotá's La Candelaria, Chapinero and around Plaza Bolívar, men in dark uniforms flash fake badges and demand to 'check passports and wallets for counterfeit 50 000-peso notes'. Real Colombian police (Policía Nacional) wear green uniforms with a visible name plate and never check wallets. Ask for an identification card with photo, insist on walking to the nearest CAI police post, and photograph the 'officer' openly.

Law No-go zones, cocaine laws and minor protection

gov.uk advises against travel to Arauca, Cauca (except Popayán), southern Chocó, and Norte de Santander (except Cúcuta tourist routes). FARC-EP dissidents + ELN active. Cocaine possession is decriminalised under 1 gram but buying on the street is 'tráfico' (8-20 years). Paying for sexual contact with anyone under 18 is a 14-year felony ('explotación sexual'). Stick to tourist-circuit cities, avoid sex-tourism zones and Colombian peso negotiations in back streets.

Emergency numbers in Colombia

Not sure who you need? Call this one. 123 Emergency number Covers police and ambulance

Colombia uses 123 as the national emergency line for police and ambulance. Fire brigades answer on 119, and 123 will also pass a fire call through.

Medical costs

  • Doctor visit Private clinic, general consultation without insurance $20 –⁠ $60 ≈ COL$61,200 –⁠ COL$184,000
  • Hospital night One night in a general ward without insurance $200 –⁠ $500 ≈ COL$612,000 –⁠ COL$1,530,000
  • Ambulance Emergency transport to hospital $40 –⁠ $280 ≈ COL$122,000 –⁠ COL$857,000
  • Dentist Check-up or basic treatment at a private practice $30 –⁠ $120 ≈ COL$91,800 –⁠ COL$367,000

Typical private prices a tourist pays without insurance.

Good to know before you go

Gestures and etiquette 1 note

Avoid stereotypes & gestures

Never mention Pablo Escobar or drug cartels. Colombians are tired of this stereotype and find it deeply offensive. The OK gesture (thumb-index circle) is considered vulgar. Always greet each person individually with a handshake or a kiss on the cheek.

Buying souvenirs 1 note

Coffee, emeralds & Wayuu bags

Colombian coffee is among the world's best, buy single-origin beans from regions like Huila or Nariño at local roasters. Mochilas wayuu (hand-woven colorful bags) take weeks to make and are uniquely Colombian. If buying emeralds, stick to reputable jewelers in Bogotá's emerald district. Artisan chocolate and panela (raw cane sugar) are delicious, affordable picks.

Driving and tolls 1 note

Highway tolls in Colombia

Colombia uses a network of toll plazas ('peajes') on major highways. As of 2026, rates for Category I vehicles typically range from COP 5,800 to COP 29,400 per station. Tolls are paid in cash (COP) at booths. Budget accordingly for long routes, as costs vary by concession and region.

Did you know? 3 notes

  • Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, home to more bird species than any other nation, over 1,900.
  • Colombia produces 70-90% of the world's emeralds. Buying them is best done in reputable stores in Bogota's emerald district, not from street sellers.
  • Colombian coffee is considered among the world's best. Visiting a coffee finca (farm) in the Zona Cafetera is one of the country's top experiences.

Cities these prices cover 4 cities

The prices on this page are typical for these cities and the tourist areas around them.

  • Cartagena Cartagena de Indias
  • Medellín
  • Bogotá
  • Santa Marta

How Colombia compares

The TruePrice Index for Colombia, next to the countries people weigh it against and its nearest neighbors, all on one scale. 100 is the median of the 60 countries I track.

  1. Ecuador 87 Prices about 13% lower than in Colombia
  2. Peru 90 Prices about 10% lower than in Colombia
  3. Dominican Republic 93 Prices about 7% lower than in Colombia
  4. Guatemala 98 About the same as in Colombia
  5. Colombia 100 This page
  6. Mexico 117 Prices about 17% higher than in Colombia
  7. Costa Rica 175 Prices about 75% higher than in Colombia

Bars show each country's TruePrice Index. The dotted line marks Colombia.

See all 60 countries in the TruePrice Index Browse every country guide

Common questions about prices in Colombia

Is Colombia expensive to visit?

Short answer: about average, if you pay what locals pay. Fair prices sit right around the 60-country median, while tourist prices are about 2.6× the fair price. On the TruePrice Index, Colombia scores 100, the 29th cheapest of the 60 countries I track.

How much does a day in Colombia cost, without flights and hotel?

Roughly COL$95,000 (about $31) a day at fair prices, or COL$223,500 (about $73) at tourist prices. That covers two meals, a coffee, a bottle of water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride. Sightseeing comes on top (COL$10,000 –⁠ COL$30,000 for a top museum or attraction), and accommodation is not included.

Do you tip in Colombia, and how much?

Colombian restaurants often suggest a 10% "propina voluntaria" on the bill, you can accept or decline it. In Bogotá and Medellín, leaving the suggested amount is increasingly common and appreciated by waitstaff.

What currency does Colombia use?

The Colombian peso (COP). On October 3, 2026, 1 USD was worth 3,060 COP. Card terminals and ATMs that offer to charge you in your home currency usually give a worse rate, so pay in COP.

How much is a meal and a beer in Colombia?

A restaurant main course is COL$35,000 –⁠ COL$80,000 (about $11 –⁠ $26) at fair prices, while tourist menus charge COL$80,000 –⁠ COL$150,000. A street food meal runs COL$5,000 –⁠ COL$12,000. A local beer is COL$6,000 –⁠ COL$12,000 (about $2 –⁠ $3.90), or COL$20,000 –⁠ COL$40,000 in tourist bars.

How much money should I bring to Colombia?

Budget roughly COL$95,000 (about $31) a day for food, drinks and getting around at local prices, or about COL$223,500 (about $73) at tourist prices. Add COL$10,000 –⁠ COL$30,000 for each major sight, plus your accommodation.

What is the emergency number in Colombia?

Call 123, the general emergency number. Use it for police and ambulance. Direct lines: fire brigade 119.

Sources and method

Where these numbers come from, and how sure I am about each one.

Prices
29 items: 9 verified and 20 estimates
Checked
to
Exchange rate
1 USD = 3,060 COP,
Fuel prices
Cities
Cartagena, Medellín, Bogotá, and Santa Marta
Page updated

What the labels mean

Verified
Checked against recent local sources.
Estimate
Based on related prices and not yet confirmed.
Rough estimate
Thin data. Treat it as a ballpark.
Fair price
What locals typically pay.
Tourist-trap price
What tourists are commonly charged in tourist areas.
Markup
The middle of the tourist-trap range divided by the middle of the fair range. 3.0× means three times the fair price.
TruePrice Index
Fair prices for all 29 items compared with the median of the 60 countries I track. 100 is the median, 50 means half the median price and 200 twice it.

How to cite

TruePrice Index, October 2026, truepriceapp.com/en/trueprice-index/

Spotted a price that looks off? Email me at [email protected] and I will check it.

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