Colombia · roaming cost calculator
Roaming Price Audit: What 8 Days of Data Cost in Colombia
HelloRoam is the top pick for Colombia: its 7-day unlimited plan costs $52.73, at full speed for the first 2 GB a day, against $84 for a week on AT&T's $12-a-day pass, a $31 gap, though Airalo sells the same week for $27.50. HelloRoam takes checkout through Stripe, with Apple Pay and Google Pay, in 31+ currencies. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185. HelloRoam's price is from its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026, rivals' from the 30 Oct 2026 price check; AT&T's rate was checked June 2026.
a 20GB travel eSIM at $51 and a $12 day pass are both dollar prices. HelloRoam settles in 31 currencies, so a non-dollar card can skip the 2 to 4 percent conversion on the eSIM side.
Which eSIM providers cover Colombia networks
HelloRoam checks out in 31+ currencies through Stripe, with Apple Pay and Google Pay on the website and in the app. In Colombia that buys fixed data from $3.38 for 1 GB over 7 days, and unlimited at $52.73 for 7 days of unlimited data, at full speed for the first 2 GB each day.
Get eSIMHolafly's Colombia plans include a 6-month refund policy for unused purchases. Coverage runs on a local 5G network at a median $3.93/day, one of the longest standard refund windows in the category.
Get eSIMColombia on Nomad means 5G data at competitive rates. A 3GB plan covers a 3-4 day weekend trip; a 5GB plan handles a full week of maps and messaging.
Get eSIMIn Colombia, Airalo rides the same local towers your roaming SIM would use, at $2.40/GB instead of $12/day.
Get eSIMIn Colombia, Saily sells data at $2.60/GB with VPN included. One-app management eliminates the need for a separate VPN subscription during the trip.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Airalo vs HelloRoam · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Holafly vs HelloRoam · Saily vs Nomad · Saily vs HelloRoam · Nomad vs HelloRoam
The full picture
What carriers charge to roam in Colombia
Every major carrier's published Colombia rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | International Pass | $10.00*source | $50.00 | LTE | 2GB per 1 Day pass |
| Xfinity Mobile | International Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | 200 MB/day |
| eSIM · HelloRoam | 20GB data plan | — | $51.00 | 5G | 20GB |
*T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. The 1 Day International Pass costs $10; the 7-day figure is the cheapest pass mix, 10-day pass.
* Xfinity Mobile International Pass: $10/day with 200 MB/day high-speed cap
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
Colombia data charges on AT&T pay-per-use: real dollar amounts
The worst-case AT&T pay-per-use scenario in Colombia: you land, turn off airplane mode, and forget to activate an international plan. Your phone syncs email, checks for app updates, and loads the map you opened. AT&T charges $2.05/MB in that state. A 30-minute Zoom call costs $922. 1 hour of Google Maps adds $102. Uploading 20 photos to iCloud runs $410. One hour of YouTube while hotel WiFi lags: $1025. A full gigabyte at AT&T's pay-per-use rate: $2,099. Source: AT&T international rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
Your Colombia saving against $12 a day
Adjust the trip length, the carrier and the daily data below and the calculator reprices both sides. The starting point is the 8-day average stay recorded for Colombia: $96 on an AT&T day pass at $12 a day, against $51 for a 20GB travel eSIM. Both prices buy access to the same local operators.
Network coverage
Colombia roaming network partnerships explained
movistar runs all cellular service in Colombia. Verizon TravelPass routes you through movistar at $12/day. A travel eSIM routes through a local network at $2.55/GB. The service is identical. Only the bill changes. Colombia has 5G through movistar. There is no 5G-premium tier in carrier roaming or eSIM plans. AT&T's $12/day covers 5G. An eSIM at $2.55/GB covers 5G. You do not pay more for faster service under either model. Colombia has limited 5G coverage. 5G in Bogota and Medellin
Network attachment record
The networks behind both prices in Colombia
HelloRoam publishes one local operator for Colombia: Claro.
One operator means no fallback network.
Where Claro has no signal, an eSIM has nowhere else to attach.
HelloRoam records no 5G operator for Colombia.
Carrier roaming meets the same ceiling, because roaming rents local networks.
Price is what separates the two options in Colombia. This page prices both.
5G and 4G here are capability labels. Neither one is a speed reading.
The operator file behind this page covers 185 destinations and 154 operators, 98 of those destinations carrying a 5G label. Colombia is one of 117 single-operator destinations in that file: Claro. Carrier roaming reaches the same radios, so the gap between the two prices is a billing gap.
| Operator | Network generation on file |
|---|---|
| Claro | 4G |
Source: HelloRoam package feed, read 17 August 2026. The feed publishes an operator list for every destination it sells. No speed test sits behind this table, and we ran none. The full operator map covers 185 destinations.
Pricing breakdown
Per-day data costs in Colombia: roaming and eSIM
Carrier roaming costs for 14 days in Colombia, ranked: T-Mobile high-speed add-on $75, Verizon TravelPass $168, AT&T International Day Pass $120, eSIM 10GB on a local network $25.50. The eSIM option costs 79% less than AT&T, which bills $12 a day.
The eSIM daily rate works out to $1.82 when spread across 14 days. AT&T charges $12/day, which is 6.6x that figure. T-Mobile's high-speed pass is $10/day. All three connect to the same local towers in Colombia.
Per-GB rates for Colombia eSIM plans: 1GB at $3.38 ($3.38/GB), 3GB at $9.45 ($3.15/GB), 5GB at $18 ($3.60/GB), 10GB at $27.38 ($2.74/GB), 20GB at $51 ($2.55/GB). Larger plans cost less per gigabyte, so buying up one tier saves money if you are close to the limit. Unlimited daily plans remove the per-GB calculation entirely at $6.85/day for 14 days. Travelers in Colombia average 1.5GB of mobile data per day, so a 14-day trip needs roughly 21GB.
Unlimited data for Colombia starts at $8.56 for 1 day and runs to $174.62 for 30, priced 1 day at $8.56, 3 days at $24.40, 7 days at $52.73, 14 days at $95.87, 30 days at $174.62. Unlimited here means 2GB a day at full speed before a fair-use policy applies. Catalogue prices read 29 Oct 2026.
Trip cost breakdown
Colombia data costs by trip length: weekend to month
AT&T bills $12/day for roaming in Colombia — that is $0.50/hour around the clock, whether your phone is in your pocket or active. A 2GB eSIM on a local network costs $9.45 for 3 days — $0.13/hour at continuous use. Difference for a 3-day trip: $26.55.
Over 14 days, AT&T's per-hour rate stays at $0.36. A 20GB eSIM on a local network for 15GB averages $0.15/hour over the same 14 days. AT&T total: $120. eSIM total: $51. Difference: $69.
A 30-day stay at $0.17/hour on AT&T reaches $120. A 50GB eSIM on a local network covering 50GB for video calls and streaming costs $127.50 — $0.18/hour. Total difference over 30 days: $-7.50 (-6%). Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
Getting connected at Colombia airports
Hotel WiFi in Colombia covers basic email but rarely handles navigation or ride-hailing apps at the same time. If you skip the airport SIM counter planning to use hotel WiFi, you may land without data for the taxi from arrivals. A 1GB eSIM at $3.38 is active before you board — maps, ride apps, and messaging all work from the arrivals hall onward.
Data planning
Data usage on a 8-day trip to Colombia
A 20GB eSIM plan gives you 20GB of data. At 1.5GB per day in Colombia, that covers 8 days with 8GB left over. If you plan to stream video daily, move up one tier.
The 20GB plan at $51 ($2.55/GB) is the best fit for this usage. Compare that to AT&T's $96 for the same 8 days on the same local towers. For heavy data users, a 1-day unlimited plan costs $8.56, still under AT&T's $12/day pass.
Connectivity
Public WiFi coverage in Colombia
Hotel WiFi in Colombia handles email and light browsing. Video calls and large downloads may lag during peak hours. An eSIM on a local network at $2.55/GB fills in when hotel WiFi is overloaded.
Plan your data
Colombia connectivity: planning your GB budget
AT&T International Day Pass charges $12/day in Colombia. A 8-day trip adds $96 to your bill before you download a single map. A travel eSIM on a local network covers the same 8 days for $51 — saving $45 (47%).
Colombia has one mobile operator: movistar. US carriers pay movistar for roaming access and pass that cost to you at $12/day. An eSIM connects to movistar directly at $2.55/GB — no carrier markup.
Airport SIM counters at El Dorado (BOG) charge $5-10 for 5-10GB / 28 days — still more than a 20GB eSIM at $51. Colombia draws 6.2M (2024) tourists each year, with peak arrivals in Dec-Jan and Jun-Jul when roaming charges concentrate most heavily. WiFi in Colombia is available in hotels and cafes. An eSIM fills the gaps at $2.55/GB instead of AT&T's $12/day roaming charge.
Quick reference
Colombia Travel Essentials
123
123 is the emergency number in Colombia. Save it before you arrive — do not rely on memory in an emergency. The number works from any mobile device, including travel eSIMs.
Type A/B
US plugs (Type A flat two-prong and Type B three-prong) fit Colombia's outlets directly. No adapter is needed for phones, laptops, or standard US electronics. Voltage is 120V — compatible with dual-voltage US chargers.
COT (UTC-5)
COP ($)
Cards are accepted at hotels, tourist-facing shops, and chain restaurants in Colombia. Local markets, small vendors, and rural businesses prefer cash. Withdraw COP at an ATM on arrival — airport ATMs have the same rates as city ATMs.
Quick tip
Colombia uses COP ($). eSIM plans charge in USD at the time of purchase — you lock in the cost before travel and avoid in-country exchange rate moves.
Good to know
Colombia's emergency number is 123, not 112. Both carrier roaming SIMs and eSIMs can dial emergency numbers without an active data plan.
Step by step
How travelers stop paying carrier rates in Colombia
- On Samsung Galaxy S21 or newer: go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager to verify eSIM support — Pixel 3a and later also qualifies — Claro CO covers 5G in Colombia
- First-time buyer: HelloRoam offers Colombia data at $3.38 for 1GB — create an account, add a payment method, and your QR code arrives in under 60 seconds. Compare eSIM providers to see your options.
- First-time eSIM install: your phone walks you through the QR scan step by step — the profile downloads in 10-30 seconds over a WiFi connection — do this before your flight to El Dorado (BOG) so it activates the moment you land
- Returning traveler shortcut: set your home carrier SIM to Data Off in the dual-SIM panel rather than navigating through roaming menus. The full data roaming guide covers all shortcuts.
- Enable the eSIM data line at El Dorado (BOG) — it connects to Claro CO automatically
- Leave your home SIM enabled for incoming calls: WiFi Calling routes them over the eSIM data connection at no extra cost
Data tips
How to use less data in Colombia
Data usage by activity: social media 80 MB/hour, maps and navigation 50 MB/hour, WhatsApp voice calls 30 MB/hour, video calls 250 MB/hour, video streaming 1 GB/hour. Download Google Maps offline areas for Colombia before departure. Set social media apps to load images on WiFi only to reduce cellular usage by 40-60%.
Regional context
Colombia in regional context: South America data costs
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Colombia:
Colombia SIM registration: Passport required. A travel eSIM purchased abroad bypasses local SIM registration requirements at the point of sale.
Claro has widest coverage including coffee region
WOM entered 2023 driving prices down
Coverage gaps in Amazon and remote mountains
Nearby
Related destinations
6 destinations near Colombia are priced on the same rate card. AT&T bills $12 a day in every one of them, and the figure beside each flag is that destination's own per-gigabyte floor. The cheapest of the group is French Guiana at $0.90 a gigabyte.
Forgot your eSIM?
You forgot to buy an eSIM for Colombia — here is what to do
If you reach Colombia without an eSIM, your first 30 minutes at the airport determine your data costs. El Dorado (BOG)'s arrivals area has free WiFi. Connect immediately — no queue, no counter. From there, HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily all support post-arrival eSIM purchases. The process: download the app over WiFi, choose a Colombia plan, scan the QR code, and activate. A 1GB plan on a local network costs $3.38, against $24 for two days on AT&T's International Day Pass. If airport WiFi drops mid-install, hotel lobby WiFi provides a stable fallback for finishing the process.
Savings math
How much you save in Colombia
Solo traveler
T-Mobile's Experience plans include 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data abroad, then up to 256Kbps. More high-speed data in Colombia takes International Passes from $10 a day, $50 over 8 days at the cheapest mix (10-day pass). A 20GB eSIM on a local network delivers full 5G for $51. The gap: $0 (0%). At 256Kbps the included data is usable mainly for text messages.
Family trip
Two travelers on Verizon in Colombia for 8 days: 2 lines x $12/day x 8 = $192. Two 20GB eSIMs: $102. Savings: $90 for the couple. If only one person needs heavy data, one eSIM with tethering costs $51 total and covers both devices through the phone's hotspot feature.
AT&T roaming rate analysis
AT&T International Day Pass billing for Colombia: $12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a local network. A background sync after that window closes starts the next $12 fee. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle, and $6 for each extra line used the same day. Over 8 days the pass costs $96. A 20GB eSIM at $51 uses data-bucket billing, which charges for data bought, not for days used.
All-carrier summary
AT&T: AT&T International Day Pass costs 88% more than an eSIM for Colombia.
Verizon: Verizon TravelPass costs 88% more than an eSIM for Colombia.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile's International Passes cost less than this eSIM plan for Colombia.
The savings math for Colombia is clear. Solo: $45 saved vs AT&T for 8 days. Family of four: $36 saved. Annual (2 trips): $90 saved. All figures use the same local 5G network. The eSIM costs less at every trip length and every group size.
Quick answers
Common questions about Colombia data costs
Is eSIM cheaper than roaming in Colombia?
Yes, an eSIM is 47% cheaper than carrier roaming in Colombia. AT&T charges $96 for a 8-day trip at $12/day. A travel eSIM on a local 5G network costs $51 for 20GB. Both use the same cell towers. The eSIM saves $45 on identical infrastructure. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does roaming cost in Colombia?
AT&T charges $12/day in Colombia. A 7-day trip costs $84. A 14-day trip costs $120. A 8-day trip costs $96. An eSIM alternative on a local network starts at $51 for the same network. Rates checked June 2026.
Does T-Mobile work in Colombia?
T-Mobile works in Colombia on its included allowance: Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. For 8 days of high-speed data, the cheapest pass mix is $50 (10-day pass). A Claro CO eSIM delivers full 5G speed for $51. Rates checked June 2026.
AT&T fine print for Colombia
$12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a foreign network, and a single background push notification at 2 AM can start it. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle (terms read 31 Oct 2026).
iCloud Photos, email push, app updates all trigger the daily charge. A phone left in a bag with data roaming on starts a new $12 fee each time a sync lands after the last 24 hours ran out.
Colombia FAQ
Colombia eSIM & roaming questions
Colombia carrier roaming costs $12 a day on AT&T and on Verizon
AT&T charges $12/day on International Day Pass for Colombia. Verizon charges $12/day on TravelPass. T-Mobile's Experience More and Experience Beyond plans include 5GB and 15GB of high-speed data abroad, then at a reduced speed, and Essentials includes texting only. Land without a plan and AT&T bills $2.05/MB, so a single gigabyte costs $2,099. Five travel eSIM providers sell Colombia data against those rates: HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily. Fixed plans start at $3.38 for 1GB on a local 5G network. HelloRoam posts the lowest fixed rate in the group, $2.01/GB on the median 5 GB plan across 40 countries, against $2.30 on Nomad. HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has the lowest median of the five at $21.50 across 35 countries, against $27.50 on Holafly. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
T-Mobile's included data in Colombia runs at high speed until the allowance ends
Until the allowance ends. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. On the same local towers in Colombia, a travel eSIM runs full 5G from $2.55/GB. The five providers differ on what happens next: HelloRoam and Holafly refund unactivated plans for 180 days, Airalo for 14. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Colombia roaming bills by the day, not by the gigabyte
A traveler lands in Colombia, checks one notification, and AT&T bills $12 for the next 24 hours. That is per-day billing: any cellular connection, including a background sync, starts the full 24-hour charge. Without a day pass the rate is $2.05/MB, so a 20 MB burst of photo syncing costs $41. An eSIM is a fixed cost at 1GB for $3.38, with no per-day trigger and no per-MB meter. HelloRoam's unlimited plan removes the meter a different way, at a 7-day median of $21.50 against $27.50 on Holafly. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
A week of Colombia data, priced across the five eSIM providers
A week of unlimited data is the like-for-like price. The median 7-day unlimited plan across the 35 countries where all five were priced costs $21.50 on HelloRoam, $25 on Nomad, $26.99 on Saily, $27 on Airalo, $27.50 on Holafly. In Colombia Airalo's 7-day plan reads cheaper, at $27.50 against $52.73 on HelloRoam. The plans differ in full-speed data: HelloRoam's plan runs at full speed for 2 GB a day in 33 of those 35 countries, while Airalo's holds 3 GB in most and Holafly states no daily cap. AT&T bills $84 for the same week in Colombia at $12 a day, $62.50 more than the HelloRoam median. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
A Colombia eSIM bought weeks early wastes no paid days
No. Most travel eSIM plans start their validity clock at first data use in the country, not at purchase, so buying two weeks ahead costs you nothing. Install over home WiFi a day or two before you fly. A failed QR scan is a problem you want to solve at your desk, not at the gate. Confirm the start trigger before you pay, because a few plans across HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily begin counting at install rather than first use, and that difference is a full paid day. AT&T bills the opposite way, charging $12 for each 24 hours from the first time your phone touches a Colombia tower, transit days included. Rates checked June 2026.
AT&T's day pass keeps your number live in Colombia, which a data-only eSIM does not
Your own number, live on the cellular network, with no app and no WiFi. That is the whole list, and it is worth $12/day to some travelers. International Day Pass covers Colombia at $12/day, or $84 a week, and draws data from your home allowance. Without it AT&T bills $2.05 a megabyte, which reaches $2,099 a gigabyte. Data-only plans from HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily cost $2.55/GB on Claro CO and carry no number at all. Most travelers close that gap free with WiFi Calling, which routes the home number over any connection. If calls from local numbers matter to you, the day pass is the simpler product. Rates checked June 2026.
Verizon TravelPass costs $84 for a week in Colombia
No. Verizon TravelPass costs $12/day in Colombia — $84 for a week. A travel eSIM starts at $2.55/GB on a local 5G network. The eSIM delivers the same speed on the same carrier infrastructure at 80-95% lower total cost.
T-Mobile's free international data in Colombia carries text and little more
T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. Past the allowance, GPS navigation, photo messaging, video calls and ride-hailing apps stall; basic text-only WhatsApp works. T-Mobile's 1 Day International Pass costs $10, against $12 per 24 hours at AT&T and $12 at Verizon. A travel eSIM on Claro CO at $2.55/GB delivers full 5G without per-day billing.
Switching data roaming off before landing in Colombia stops the bill
Turn off data roaming on your carrier SIM before landing in Colombia. AT&T's per-day charge fires from any background cellular contact — even a push notification overnight — at $12 per 24 hours. Without a plan, the rate is $2.05/MB. Install a travel eSIM via QR code before departure and set it as the active data SIM. Your carrier SIM stays active for calls and texts with WiFi Calling; the eSIM handles data at $2.55/GB.
A week of Colombia carrier roaming costs $84
AT&T: $84/week (International Day Pass at $12/day). Verizon: $84/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps, or $50 for a week of passes (10-day pass). The cheapest eSIM for Colombia starts at $2.55/GB on a local 5G network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
eSIM and roaming: facts vs. assumptions for Colombia
EU roaming is free for Americans
EU roaming-within-the-EU rules apply only to SIM cards issued by EU-based carriers. AT&T and Verizon are US carriers — they charge full international day pass rates in every EU country. AT&T's International Day Pass runs $12/day in EU destinations. Verizon TravelPass is $12/day. A travel eSIM on a local network covers Colombia for $3.38 total. Rates checked June 2026.
You need to unlock your phone to use an eSIM
eSIM installation does not require an unlocked phone in most cases. iPhones sold in the US since iPhone 14 are sold unlocked by law. iPhones XS through 13 require unlocking to add a foreign carrier eSIM, but AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer free unlocking after your contract ends. Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models support eSIM on both locked and unlocked variants. Check your carrier's unlock policy before your trip to Colombia.
Roaming charges only apply to data
US carrier international plans charge separately for data, calls, and texts. AT&T's International Day Pass at $12/day includes data but charges $0.25–$1.50/minute for calls beyond the bundled allocation. Incoming voicemail retrieval can trigger per-minute roaming charges even when you make no outgoing calls. A data-only eSIM in Colombia at $3.38 covers data and uses WhatsApp or FaceTime for voice at no additional carrier cost. Rates checked June 2026.
Our recommendation
Which eSIM to get for Colombia
If you want the most straightforward option for Colombia, go with HelloRoam. HelloRoam covers Colombia on a local network and scores 9.9/10 on our rubric, the highest of the 5 providers we price. A 1GB plan costs $3.38. Unactivated plans are refundable for 180 days, and its support replies in your own language. Holafly is the alternative for heavy data users: it states no daily cap, at a 7-day unlimited median of $27.50 on 30 Oct 2026.
Learn more
Travel guides, Colombia
4 guides carry the parts of a Colombia trip this page does not price: installing the profile before departure, switching data roaming off on the home SIM, and what happens to the allowance once a fair-use policy applies. Each one reads the same rate card as this page, where AT&T bills $12 a day.
Your carrier charges $84 for a Colombia week. A 20GB eSIM costs $51.
A travel eSIM connects to Colombia networks from $51. No daily roaming fees.
Get a Colombia eSIM