Budget · Bogotá · Colombia
Bogotá on a budget
What a trip to Bogotá really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Bogotá is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $35–$60 per person per day on a tight budget, $90–$170 mid-range and $280–$700 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in May and September–November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $35–$60 a day
- Mid-range
- $90–$170 a day
- Luxury
- $280–$700 a day
- Local currency
- COP
- Free sights
- 7
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $35–$60 | $105–$180 | $175–$300 | $245–$420 |
| Mid-range | $90–$170 | $270–$510 | $450–$850 | $630–$1,190 |
| Luxury | $280–$700 | $840–$2,100 | $1,400–$3,500 | $1,960–$4,900 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Bogotá, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| TransMilenio single fare | about COP 3,000–3,500 |
| Tinto coffee | about COP 2,000–4,000 |
| Set lunch (corrientazo) | about COP 15,000–25,000 |
| Bowl of ajiaco in a restaurant | about COP 25,000–45,000 |
| Museo del Oro entry | about COP 5,000–6,000 |
| Taxi from the airport to Chapinero | about COP 30,000–50,000 |
| Dinner at a mid-range restaurant | about COP 60,000–120,000 per person |
Money-saving tips
- The Museo Botero and the other Banco de la República collections in La Candelaria are free, and the Museo del Oro's entry is low.
- Eat set lunches at local restaurants for a fraction of dinner prices.
- Use TransMilenio outside rush hours instead of taxis for long cross-city trips.
- Business hotels in the north often have lower rates at weekends.
- Take public buses to Zipaquirá and Suesca rather than private tours.
- Use ATMs inside banks or malls and decline dynamic currency conversion.
Free things to do
- Plaza de Bolívar — Bogotá's main square is framed by the neoclassical Capitolio Nacional, the Primary Cathedral, the Palace of Justice and the Liévano Palace, the mayor's office.
- Museo Botero — Housed in a colonial mansion around a courtyard, this free museum shows Fernando Botero's donation of his own paintings and sculptures alongside his collection of works by Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Dalí, Miró and others.
- Chorro de Quevedo — This small square at the top of La Candelaria is traditionally considered the site where the city was founded in 1538.
- Iglesia de San Francisco — Built from the late 16th century, this is one of the oldest surviving churches in Bogotá, on the corner of Avenida Jiménez and Carrera 7 opposite the Museo del Oro.
- Usaquén Sunday flea market — Every Sunday the streets around Usaquén's colonial square fill with stalls selling crafts, jewellery, leather, antiques and street food.
- Ciclovía — On Sundays and public holidays, more than 100 km of main roads close to cars from early morning until early afternoon, and cyclists, runners and skaters take over.
Where to stay on a budget
$ · Best for culture, budget, solo travellers and first-timers
La Candelaria
Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills
$$ · Best for food lovers, culture and couples
La Macarena
Bohemian hillside neighbourhood of galleries and small restaurants above the bullring
$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers, food lovers and budget
Chapinero
Large, mixed district of cafés, bars, universities and the city's LGBTQ+ scene
Eating well for less
- Changua — Traditional breakfast restaurants and markets.
- Almojábanas and pandebono — Bakeries across the city in the morning and afternoon.
- Empanadas — Street stands, bakeries and TransMilenio station kiosks.
- Tropical fruit — Paloquemao market, street vendors and juice stands.
Getting around for less
TuLlave card
The rechargeable smartcard used on TransMilenio and SITP buses, sold and topped up at stations.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Bogotá cost?
About $450–$850 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $175–$300 on a tight budget.
+Is Bogotá expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. The Museo Botero and the other Banco de la República collections in La Candelaria are free, and the Museo del Oro's entry is low.
+How much money do I need per day in Bogotá?
Roughly $35–$60 on a budget and $90–$170 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Bogotá?
Usually in May and September–November.