Colombia on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Colombia is very good for budget travel, with cheap hostels, set lunches and buses. A realistic minimum is about COP 220,000 (roughly €48) per person a day sharing a room, including some transport between cities.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | COP70,000 | COP160,000 | COP450,000 |
| Food & drink | COP60,000 | COP120,000 | COP250,000 |
| Sights & tickets | COP30,000 | COP80,000 | COP150,000 |
| Local transport | COP60,000 | COP120,000 | COP200,000 |
| Per person, per day | COP220,000 | COP480,000 | COP1,050,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Colombia day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Botero Museum in Bogota
- Bogota's Ciclovia, when main roads close to traffic on Sundays and holidays
- Plaza Botero's giant bronze sculptures in central Medellin
- Walking the colourful streets of Getsemani and the walls of Cartagena
- Valle de Cocora's wax palms (small entry fees on some trails)
- Tip-based walking tours in the main cities
Cheap eats
- Set lunch (almuerzo, corrientazo), often COP 15,000-25,000
- Ajiaco in Bogota, roughly COP 25,000-45,000
- Bandeja paisa in Medellin, about COP 25,000-40,000
- Arepas and empanadas from street stalls, a few thousand pesos each
- Fresh fruit juices from market stalls, about COP 4,000-10,000
Where to sleep for less
Hostels and guesthouses in La Candelaria (Bogota), Laureles (Medellin), Salento centre and Getsemani (Cartagena) cost about COP 120,000-220,000 for a double, with dorm beds cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
Long-distance buses are cheapest but slow (Bogota-Medellin about 9-10 hours). Low-cost flights booked ahead are often worth the extra money. In cities use metros and app taxis; airports have official taxi ranks and some have cheap airport buses.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Comuna 13 tour in Medellin (about COP 60,000)
- Lunch: set lunch in Laureles, about COP 20,000
- Afternoon: Metro and Metrocable over the hills (about COP 7,000 for two rides)
- Evening: arepas and a beer on La 70, about COP 25,000
- Total: about COP 220,000 including a shared hostel room and local transport
More ways to save
- Carry small notes; buses, markets and taxis often cannot change large bills.
- Check low-cost airline baggage rules before booking; fees can exceed the fare.
- Travel outside Colombian holiday periods for lower prices and easier bookings.
- Stay on coffee farms near Salento midweek for better rates.
- Take day trips by public bus, such as to Guatape, rather than tours.
- Use free museum days in Bogota and Medellin.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Can you travel Colombia on a budget?
Yes. Hostels, set lunches and buses keep costs to about COP 220,000 per person a day.
Should I fly or take the bus in Colombia?
Fly long distances, which saves 8-13 hours each; take buses for short legs like Medellin to Guatape.
What is the cheapest meal in Colombia?
The set lunch (almuerzo or corrientazo), with soup, a main and a juice, often COP 15,000-25,000.