Colombia has long attracted budget travellers for its combination of low prices, diverse landscapes, and long-stay-friendly 90-day visa allowance. But costs vary significantly depending on where you go, how you travel, and what you expect. Cartagena’s beach clubs operate on a different price planet to a coffee farmer’s guesthouse in Salento. Here is a realistic, city-by-city breakdown to help you plan, with prices as of 2026.
Want a number for your own trip? Our Colombia trip cost calculator turns these ranges into a total for your dates and travel style.
Understanding Colombian Prices
All prices in Colombia are quoted in Colombian pesos (COP). The exchange rate fluctuates, but as a rough guide for 2026: USD 1 is approximately COP 4,000. EUR 1 is approximately COP 4,400.
When reading menus or price lists: COP 40,000 is about USD 10. COP 200,000 is about USD 50. COP 1,000,000 is about USD 250. The number of digits can be disorienting at first — travellers often accidentally pay 10x what they intended before they calibrate.
Budget Tier: Backpacker (USD 30 to 45 per day)
This tier is achievable if you stay in hostels, eat at local restaurants, and use public transport.
Accommodation: Hostel dorm beds range from COP 35,000 to 65,000 per night (approximately USD 9 to 16) in Medellín, Bogotá, and Manizales. Cartagena and Santa Marta are pricier — expect COP 55,000 to 85,000 (USD 14 to 21) for a dorm in those cities. Popular hostels in each city include:
- Bogotá: The Cranky Croc (Chapinero), El Viajero Bogotá (Candelaria) — from approximately COP 38,000 per dorm bed
- Medellín: Wandering Paisa Hostel (El Poblado), Selina Medellín (Laureles) — from approximately COP 45,000 per dorm bed
- Cartagena: Mamallena Cartagena, Casa Viena — from approximately COP 55,000 per dorm bed
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Food: The corrientazo is your best friend as a budget traveller. This set lunch (typically soup, a protein, rice, salad, and a drink) is served at virtually every local restaurant between noon and 3pm and costs COP 8,000 to 14,000 (approximately USD 2 to 3.50). Arepas, empanadas, and tamales from street vendors cost COP 2,000 to 5,000 each. A fruit juice at a market stall is COP 3,000 to 5,000.
Budget daily food estimate: Breakfast (arepas, coffee) COP 6,000 + Lunch (corrientazo) COP 12,000 + Dinner (restaurant or hostel cook) COP 18,000 = approximately COP 36,000 (USD 9) per day.
Transport: Long-distance buses are the budget mode. Urban transport (TransMilenio, Medellín Metro) costs COP 3,200 per trip. Budget for approximately COP 10,000 to 15,000 per day in urban transport and add intercity bus costs per journey (COP 60,000 to 120,000 for major routes).
Activities: Free walking tours (tip-based, approximately COP 20,000 to 40,000 tip suggested), city parks, street art neighbourhoods (La 13 in Medellín, Candelaria in Bogotá) cost nothing. A museum like the Museo de Antioquia in Medellín charges COP 18,000 (approximately USD 4.50 as of 2026). A day trip to Guatapé including colectivo and Peñol rock entry runs approximately COP 80,000 to 100,000 all-in.
Backpacker daily total: approximately USD 30 to 45, depending on city (Cartagena pushes the higher end).
Mid-Range Tier: Comfortable Traveller (USD 70 to 110 per day)
This tier covers private rooms at good guesthouses or boutique hotels, sit-down restaurants for most meals, and one or two paid activities per day.
Accommodation:
- Bogotá (Chapinero or Zona Rosa): COP 180,000 to 280,000 per night (approximately USD 45 to 70) for a clean double room with private bathroom at a small hotel or Airbnb. Hotel Dann Carlton, GHL Hotel Capital, and numerous Chapinero boutique stays sit in this range.
- Medellín (El Poblado or Laureles): COP 160,000 to 260,000 per night (approximately USD 40 to 65). Laureles neighbourhood consistently offers better value than El Poblado for the same standard.
- Cartagena (Getsemaní or Bocagrande): COP 200,000 to 350,000 per night (approximately USD 50 to 88). The Old City commands a 30 to 50% premium over Getsemaní for comparable rooms.
- Santa Marta or Taganga: COP 150,000 to 250,000 per night (approximately USD 37 to 62) at a comfortable guesthouse.
Food: At this tier you eat at proper sit-down restaurants, not just corrientazo spots. A main course at a mid-range restaurant in Bogotá or Medellín costs COP 35,000 to 65,000 (approximately USD 9 to 16). A craft beer at El Poblado’s bars runs COP 14,000 to 22,000. Breakfast at a café with eggs, fruit, and coffee: approximately COP 22,000 to 35,000.
Mid-range daily food estimate: Breakfast (café) COP 28,000 + Lunch (restaurant) COP 45,000 + Dinner (mid-range) COP 60,000 + drinks COP 25,000 = approximately COP 158,000 (USD 39) per day.
Transport: A combination of app-based taxis (InDriver, Cabify) and metro/BRT for city movement. Budget COP 30,000 to 50,000 per day in urban transport at this tier. Domestic flights are more frequent — a last-minute Bogotá to Cartagena flight at this budget level costs COP 200,000 to 350,000 (USD 50 to 88).
Activities: Coffee Region farm tours (COP 80,000 to 150,000), guided Cocora Valley hike (COP 60,000 to 90,000 with guide), whale watching tour from Nuqui or Bahia Solano (June to October, approximately COP 180,000 to 280,000 per person for a day tour). City tours with licensed guides: COP 60,000 to 100,000.
Mid-range daily total: approximately USD 70 to 110.
Luxury Tier: Premium Travel (USD 180 to 300+ per day)
Colombia’s luxury tier has expanded significantly in the past decade. Cartagena in particular has a cluster of genuinely world-class boutique hotels and fine dining restaurants that compete regionally.
Accommodation:
- Cartagena (Old City): Hotel Casa San Agustín (doubles from approximately COP 900,000 / USD 225 per night), Hotel Las Américas (from approximately COP 650,000 / USD 162), Hotel Bantu (boutique, from approximately COP 750,000 / USD 188). All prices as of 2026 and subject to seasonal variation.
- Medellín (El Poblado): Hotel Dann Carlton Medellín (from approximately COP 480,000 / USD 120), Casa Dann Carlton (from approximately COP 580,000 / USD 145), or premium Airbnb villas in El Poblado hills from approximately COP 700,000 per night.
- Bogotá (Zona Rosa / Usaquén): Hotel Casa Medina (doubles from approximately COP 750,000 / USD 188), Hotel de la Opera (from approximately COP 600,000 / USD 150), JW Marriott Bogotá (from approximately COP 700,000 / USD 175).
- Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero): Hacienda Venecia (boutique coffee farm hotel, from approximately COP 650,000 / USD 162) and similar farm stays combine luxury with authenticity.
Food: Fine dining in Bogotá clusters around the Zona Rosa, Usaquén, and Parque 93 areas. Restaurante Leo (one Michelin star, international recognition) runs tasting menus at approximately COP 380,000 to 500,000 per person as of 2026. Harry Sasson in El Poblado, Medellín offers steaks from approximately COP 80,000 to 150,000. Budget COP 200,000 to 400,000 per person per day on food at this tier with drinks included.
Activities: Private guided tours of the Coffee Region (COP 350,000 to 600,000 per day), chartered boat trips in the Caribbean (from Cartagena, approximately COP 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 for a group day charter), humpback whale watching with a private operator (June to October off Pacific Coast, COP 400,000 to 800,000 per person), private Bogotá food tour with sommelier (COP 350,000 to 600,000).
Luxury daily total: approximately USD 180 to 300+, with Cartagena and the Caribbean coast routinely exceeding the top of this range during high season.
Sample Per-City Cost Comparison
| Expense | Bogotá | Medellín | Cartagena | Salento |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | COP 38,000 | COP 45,000 | COP 60,000 | COP 40,000 |
| Mid-range double | COP 220,000 | COP 200,000 | COP 300,000 | COP 160,000 |
| Corrientazo lunch | COP 12,000 | COP 11,000 | COP 16,000 | COP 10,000 |
| Restaurant dinner | COP 55,000 | COP 50,000 | COP 75,000 | COP 40,000 |
| Craft beer | COP 18,000 | COP 16,000 | COP 22,000 | COP 14,000 |
| App taxi (5km) | COP 12,000 | COP 10,000 | COP 15,000 | n/a |
| Metro/BRT | COP 3,200 | COP 3,200 | n/a | n/a |
All prices approximate as of 2026.
Currency and Payment Practicalities
Cash vs card: Colombia is more cash-dependent than Europe or North America. Local restaurants, markets, colectivos, and street vendors rarely accept cards. Hotels and chain restaurants typically do. We recommend carrying COP 100,000 to 200,000 in cash at all times in addition to your card.
ATMs: Most ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard. Bancolombia, Banco de Bogotá, and Davivienda are the most reliable for international cards. ATM fees are approximately COP 8,000 to 14,000 per withdrawal (as of 2026). Withdrawal limits per transaction are typically COP 600,000 to 1,000,000. Some ATMs cap lower — try a Bancolombia machine if another bank limits you.
Currency exchange: Exchange rates at official casas de cambio (exchange houses) at El Dorado airport are notably worse than city rates. Exchange a small amount for immediate needs at the airport, then use ATMs or city exchange houses for the rest.
Tipping: Not mandatory but appreciated. In restaurants with table service, 10% is standard (it is often added automatically as “propina voluntaria” on the bill — you can decline). Tips to taxi drivers are not customary. Tour guides and hostel staff appreciate COP 10,000 to 20,000 tips.
What Raises Your Budget Unexpectedly
Cartagena prices: The Old City and surrounding beach clubs operate on Caribbean tourist pricing. A cocktail that costs COP 14,000 in Medellín costs COP 28,000 in Cartagena’s Café del Mar. Budget 30 to 50% more for everything in Cartagena versus mainland cities.
Adventure activities: Paragliding in Medellín (COP 120,000 to 180,000), white-water rafting on the Río Negro near San Gil (COP 80,000 to 140,000), diving certification in Taganga (from approximately COP 800,000 for an Open Water course) can significantly increase a day’s spend.
Holiday weekends (puentes): Colombia has numerous public holiday long weekends. Accommodation prices spike 30 to 100% during Semana Santa (Holy Week before Easter), Christmas, New Year, and the Feria de las Flores (Medellín, August). Book 3 to 4 weeks ahead and expect higher prices if your travel dates land on a puente.
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