Money in Colombia: cash, cards and tipping
What holds for the whole country, in one place: where a card is enough and where it is not, where to change money, whether to tip, and the taxes nobody mentions until the bill.
The currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). $1 ≈ COP 3,204 · rate of October 6, 2026
Where a card is enough
Only the places a source speaks about. Where it says nothing, neither do we.
| Where | How you pay |
|---|---|
| Major hotels | Card From the source |
| Department stores and shopping centres | Card From the source |
| Restaurants in cities | Card From the source |
| Small shops | Cash From the source |
| Markets and stalls | Cash From the source |
| Rural areas | Cash From the source |
From the source means we read it where it is set: the operator, the bank, the city or the statistics office. Reported means a guide or the press says so and we have not seen the original. Where sources disagree we show both figures and leave the price out of every sum.
Where to change money
The cheapest route is usually an ATM and a card that does not charge for converting; whether yours does is up to your bank. These are the places that change cash.
- Airports
- Banks
- Exchange counters
- Some hotels
Hotels and airports usually give a worse rate: change a little on arrival and the rest elsewhere.
Banks give a good rate, but they only open on weekdays.
Never change money on the street or with anyone who is not authorised.
If you bring US dollars, bring 100-dollar notes in good condition: worn or very old ones can be refused.
Tipping
| Restaurants | Optional |
|---|---|
| Bars and cafés | Optional |
Taxes and charges
- Consumption tax: 19% VAT, except in restaurants and bars, which charge the national consumption tax of 8% instead.
- None of its cities charges a lodging tax: each city page cites the source that says so.
What each city costs
Per person per day, mid-range, for two travelling together. Without accommodation, flights or the airport transfer, so the cities can be compared.
| City | Per person per day |
|---|---|
| Medellín | COP 160,000–210,000 |
If something goes wrong
The numbers and where to go, as the official source publishes them.
- Police
- 123
- Fire and ambulance
- 123
What applies to any trip: before you go, and if you lose your card
SourcesWhere every figure comes from
Every fact on this page carries its source. Reviewed: October 2026.
This page tells you how much to take. The app keeps count of what you spend.
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