Colombian Peso: A Guide to Money in Colombia

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The Colombian Peso is the official currency of Colombia, and it's essential to have a basic understanding of it before traveling to the country.

You can exchange your money for Colombian Pesos at airports, banks, and currency exchange offices, known as casas de cambio.

In Colombia, you can also use ATMs to withdraw Pesos using your debit or credit card, but be aware of the high withdrawal fees.

Using the Colombian Peso

You can get cash easily with your bank ATM card, which is almost universally accepted at cajeros automáticos (ATMs) in Colombia.

Cajeros are almost everywhere, except in the smallest of towns or in remote areas.

Withdrawal fees are relatively expensive, but they vary.

You can usually take out up to around COP$300,000-500,000 (the equivalent of around US$150-250) per transaction.

Many banks place limits on how much one can withdraw in a day, with a maximum of COP$1,000,000.

Atms

ATMs are a convenient way to get cash in Colombia, and you can find them almost everywhere except in the smallest of towns or remote areas.

Credit: youtube.com, Don’t make this mistake at ATMs in Colombia

The best way to get cash is to use your bank ATM card, which is almost universally accepted at cajeros automáticos (ATMs) in the country.

You can usually take out up to around COP$300,000-500,000 (the equivalent of around US$150-250) per transaction.

Be aware that many banks place limits on how much one can withdraw in a day, typically around COP$1,000,000.

Withdrawing cash from an ATM in Colombia can be a bit pricey, but you can expect to pay relatively expensive withdrawal fees that vary.

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Better Rate Inquiry

If you're waiting on a better rate, you can check the Colombian peso's performance over the past 30 or 90 days to see if it's a good time to exchange.

The Colombian peso's exchange rate hasn't changed much over the past 30 days, with a high of 0.0002 USD, a low of 0.0002 USD, and an average of 0.0002 USD.

You can also check the exchange rate's change over the past 90 days, which has actually decreased by 1.04%.

Curious to learn more? Check out: 90 Usd to Colombian Peso

Two Versions

Credit: youtube.com, Colombian Money (Pesos) Explained + Personal Tips

You'll notice that there are two versions of the Colombian peso notes in circulation. The Colombian government changed the design of the notes in 2017, but didn't take the old notes out of circulation.

This means you'll likely receive a combination of the two versions when exchanging money or getting change in shops and restaurants. The two versions of the 2,000 pesos notes and the 50,000 pesos notes are valid and accepted everywhere.

Both old and new versions of the coins are also still accepted, except for the 1,000 pesos coin. The older version of the coins is generally a bit larger, while the newer versions are smaller and shinier.

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Currency Pairings and Restrictions

The Colombian peso is the official currency, abbreviated as COP, and prices are marked with a dollar sign, but don't let that fool you - it's pesos you're looking at.

Most banks in Colombia don't exchange money, so you'll need to head to a money exchange, which can be found in major cities. These money changers are the way to go for exchanging your cash.

Due to the devalued peso, Colombia is a bargain for international visitors, with one US dollar equivalent to COP$4,000 in early 2020.

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Top Currency Pairings

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Credit: pexels.com, Stack of 100 Brazilian real notes placed on a blue surface, showcasing currency details.

The COP to USD currency pairing is one of the most popular conversions. In the last 30 days, the 30 day high for COP to USD was 0.0002, with a 30 day low of 0.0002, resulting in a 30 day average of 0.0002.

The change in the COP to USD rate over the last 30 days was 0.81, indicating a slight increase. The 90 day high for COP to USD was also 0.0002, with a 90 day low of 0.0002, resulting in a 90 day average of 0.0002.

The change in the COP to USD rate over the last 90 days was -1.04, indicating a slight decrease. To convert Colombian pesos to US dollars, you can simply type in the amount you want to convert and use our currency converter.

Our converter will show you the current COP to USD rate and how it's changed over the past day, week or month.

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Import Restrictions

Closeup of USA 20 dollar bills placed on black surface as national currency for business and personal financial operations
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You can't buy Colombian pesos abroad easily, as most exchange bureaus consider it a volatile currency.

It's best to bring dollars or euros to exchange in Colombia, as these currencies give you the best exchange rates.

In neighbouring countries like Venezuela and Ecuador, you might be able to find exchange bureaus that stock Colombian pesos.

The exchange rate for Colombian pesos can fluctuate daily, so be prepared for changes.

For example, £1 will buy you nearly $4,000 pesos at the time of writing, whereas in 2013 it was only $2,800 pesos.

Make sure to exchange all of your leftover Colombian pesos before leaving the country.

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Colombia Currency Details

Colombia's official currency is the peso, abbreviated as COP, and prices are marked with a dollar sign, but remember, it's in Colombian pesos.

The peso has devalued to record levels, making the country a bargain for international visitors, with one U.S. dollar equivalent to COP$4,000 in early 2020.

Credit: youtube.com, COLOMBIAN CURRENCY Explained + Local Tips & Money Exchange

Bills in Colombia are in denominations of $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, and $100,000, while coins are in denominations of $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000.

Coins in Colombia got a makeover in 2016, resulting in two different versions of the same coin amount, so you may see both old and new versions of the same coin.

Most banks in Colombia don't exchange money, so you'll need to visit a money exchange in a major city for that service.

Colombia Currency

The Colombian peso is the official currency, abbreviated as COP, and prices are marked with a dollar sign, but remember that you're seeing the price in Colombian pesos.

Colombia's currency has denominations of $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, and $100,000 for bills, and $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000 for coins.

Coins in Colombia got a makeover in 2016, so you may see two different versions of the same coin amount.

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Credit: youtube.com, Colombia Currency - The Peso - Currency Universe

To exchange money, you'll have to go to a money exchange, located in all major cities, as most banks in Colombia do not exchange money.

Travelers checks are not worth the hassle, as they are hard to cash, and dollars are sometimes accepted in Cartagena and other major tourist destinations.

Counterfeit bills are a problem in Colombia, and unsuspecting international visitors are often the recipients, so it's good to always have a stash of small bills to avoid getting large bills back as change.

The Colombian peso has devalued to record levels, making the country a bargain for international visitors, with one U.S. dollar being equivalent to COP$4,000 in early 2020.

The current coins in circulation are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 pesos.

The 5,000 peso note was put into circulation in 1995, rendering homage to Colombian poet José Asunción Silva, and the 10,000 peso note was put into circulation in 1995, with the Bank of the Republic rendering homage to the heroine of Colombian Independence, Policarpa Salavarrieta.

The 1,000 peso coin exists in circulation, and the following notes exist: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and the newly released 100,000.

The 100,000 note is new and there may be establishments that don’t accept them, so it’s a good idea to break them whenever you get a chance.

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Unidad de Valor Real

Credit: youtube.com, Banknotes of the World - Colombia. Colombian Peso.

The Unidad de Valor Real (UVR) is an accounting currency used in Colombia to reflect inflation and purchase power. It's maintained by the Banco de la República.

The UVR is used to calculate the cost of housing loans, allowing financial entities to maintain the purchasing power of borrowed money.

In Colombia, the UVR is used in conjunction with the peso, the official currency of the country.

The UVR has an ISO 4217 code, COU, which is an international standard for currency codes.

Here are some key features of the UVR:

  • Used to calculate housing loan costs
  • Maintained by the Banco de la República
  • Has an ISO 4217 code, COU

Frequently Asked Questions

Is $50 a lot of money in Colombia?

In Colombia, $50 is equivalent to a substantial amount, around 150,000 COP, allowing for a comfortable budget for basic needs and sightseeing. This generous budget provides a great foundation for exploring the country.

Ernest Zulauf

Writer

Ernest Zulauf is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for research, Ernest has established himself as a trusted voice in the field of finance and retirement planning. Ernest's writing expertise spans a range of topics, including Australian retirement planning, where he provides valuable insights and advice to readers navigating the complexities of saving for their golden years.

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