Money & Payments in Bogotá

Good to Know

• Break large bills (50,000+ COP) at supermarkets or restaurants early in your trip—many small vendors genuinely cannot make change for them.
• Never exchange money with street vendors or informal money changers, even if promised better rates; these are common scams.
• Use malls and bank ATMs, not airport kiosks, for withdrawals—safer and with better rates.
• Dynamic currency conversion (paying in your home currency at a card terminal) always costs more; always choose Colombian pesos.
• Davivienda and BBVA banks sometimes offer fee-free or low-fee ATM withdrawals for international cards.
• Bogotá has lower perceived cash use than other Colombian cities but still relies on cash for informal transactions and small vendors.
• Carry cash and cards together for flexibility—cards work in modern venues, cash essential for markets and street vendors.