Colombia captivates visitors with its incredible diversity, from Caribbean beaches and Andean peaks to Amazon rainforest and colonial cities. Experience vibrant culture, world-class coffee, salsa dancing, and warm hospitality in South America's most biodiverse nation.
Local currency: Colombian Peso (COP).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Colombia.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $12-18 (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $35-55 (budget hotel private)
- Midrange
- $80-150 (mid hotel)
- Luxury
- $250-950+
Food
- Street
- $2-4 (street food, arepas, empanadas)
- Local
- $4-8 (menú del día set lunch)
- Midrange
- $15-30 (casual restaurant)
- Fine
- $60-150+ (fine dining tasting menu)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.70-1 (metro/city bus)
- Taxi
- $3-8 (short city Uber/taxi)
- Airport
- $10-35 (airport transfer depending on city)
- Daytrip
- $15-40 (bus to day trip destination)
Activities
- Museum
- $0-8 (many free on Sundays)
- Sites
- $8-18 (national parks, major attractions)
- Tour
- $35-65 (guided walking or city tour)
- Excursion
- $50-120 (full day excursion)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Colombia costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$250-350/week
Midrange traveller
$560-840/week
Luxury traveller
$2,100-4,000+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat the menú del día (set lunch) at local restaurants for $4-8 — includes soup, main course, drink, and often dessert. Best value in Colombian dining.
Travel between cities by night bus — saves accommodation costs and uses overnight hours efficiently. Bogotá-Medellín bus is 9-10 hours, $25-35.
Buy domestic flight tickets 3-4 weeks ahead on budget airlines (Viva, Wingo) for savings over full-service carriers Avianca and LATAM.
Use TransMilenio (Bogotá) and Metro (Medellín) instead of taxis — comprehensive, safe, and $0.90/ride versus $5-10 for short taxi trips.
Visit major museums on Sundays — many Bogotá national museums including the Gold Museum are free on Sundays.
Stay in the hostel's private rooms rather than boutique hotels — quality hostels like Masaya and Selina offer private rooms with social facilities at 40-60% less.
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Bogotá's Ciclovía
Every Sunday and holiday, 120km of Bogotá streets close to cars for cyclists and pedestrians from 7AM-2PM. Free bike rentals and a city transformed.
Museo del Oro - Sundays
The world's finest gold museum offers free admission every Sunday. Normally $4 entry to see 55,000+ pre-Columbian gold artifacts.
Museo Botero
The entire Banco de la República Museum in Bogotá is permanently free, housing Botero's 208 donated works alongside Picasso, Monet, and Dalí.
Plaza Bolívar, Bogotá
The political and historic heart of Colombia with free access to the Palacio de Justicia, Capitolio Nacional exterior, and people-watching with resident pigeons.
Botero Plaza, Medellín
Fernando Botero's famous bronze sculptures fill this open-air plaza in downtown Medellín. Free to walk, touch, and photograph the voluminous figures.
Cartagena Old Town Streets
Walking through the UNESCO-listed walled city costs nothing — colorful balconies, colonial churches, street art, and vibrant plazas are all free to explore.
Parque Arví Trails
The cable car to Parque Arví costs $4 but once inside, basic trails through cloud forest above Medellín are free to walk.
Free Walking Tours Bogotá
Daily free walking tours of La Candelaria in Bogotá depart from Plaza Bolívar at 10AM and 2PM — tip-based with passionate knowledgeable guides.
Cartagena City Walls Walk
The 11km circuit of Cartagena's colonial fortification walls is free to walk with sea breezes and views over the historic center.
Monserrate Hiking Trail
The steep hiking trail to Monserrate mountaintop sanctuary above Bogotá is free on weekends — cable car costs $8 but the trail is the real experience.