Colombia · roaming cost calculator
Colombia eSIM vs Carrier Roaming: Full Cost Breakdown
We earn commissions from some links below. This does not affect the price comparisons or rankings shown on this page. Editorial policy
Which eSIM providers cover Colombia networks
In Colombia, Airalo routes through Claro CO — the same towers your roaming SIM would use, at $2.78/GB instead of $10/day.
Get eSIMHolafly's Colombia plans include a 6-month refund policy for unused purchases. Coverage runs on Claro CO's 5G network at $2.99/day — the industry's longest standard refund window.
Get eSIMIn Colombia, Saily connects to Claro CO at $2.78/GB with VPN included. One-app management eliminates the need for a separate VPN subscription during the trip.
Get eSIMColombia on Nomad means Claro CO 5G 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 eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Saily vs Nomad
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 | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | Magenta (high-speed add-on) | Free*source | $0–105 | 256kbps* | Throttled |
| Xfinity Mobile | International Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | 200 MB/day |
| eSIM · Airalo | 1 GB · 7 days | — | $2.78 | LTE / 5G | 1 GB |
*T-Mobile includes data at 256kbps free; high-speed access is a $5–15/day add-on, shown here as a 7-day range.
* 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: $2099. Source: AT&T international rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
How much will you save with an eSIM in Colombia?
Adjust your trip length, carrier, and data habits to see your exact savings.
Network coverage
Colombia roaming network partnerships explained
movistar runs all cellular service in Colombia. Verizon TravelPass routes you through movistar at $10/day. A travel eSIM routes through movistar at $2.78/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 $10/day covers 5G. An eSIM at $2.78/GB covers 5G. You do not pay more for faster service under either model. Colombia has limited 5G coverage. 5G in Bogota and Medellin Average download speeds reach 35 Mbps on movistar's network — identical whether you connect through a carrier roaming pass or a travel eSIM.
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 $210, Verizon TravelPass $140, AT&T International Day Pass $140, eSIM 10GB on Claro CO $27.80. The eSIM option costs 80% less than AT&T.
The eSIM daily rate works out to $1.99 when spread across 14 days. AT&T charges $10/day, which is 5x that figure. T-Mobile's high-speed pass is $15/day. All three connect to the same Claro CO towers in Colombia.
Per-GB rates for Colombia eSIM plans: 1GB at $4.77 ($4.77/GB), 3GB at $12.60 ($4.20/GB), 5GB at $20.16 ($4.03/GB), 10GB at $29.25 ($2.93/GB), 20GB at $55.50 ($2.78/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 $8.56/day. Travelers in Colombia average 1.5GB of mobile data per day, so a 14-day trip needs roughly 21GB.
Trip cost breakdown
Colombia data costs by trip length: weekend to month
AT&T bills $10/day for roaming in Colombia — that is $0.42/hour around the clock, whether your phone is in your pocket or active. A 2GB eSIM on Claro CO costs $12.60 for 3 days — $0.18/hour at continuous use. Difference for a 3-day trip: $17.40.
Over 14 days, AT&T's per-hour rate stays at $0.42. A 20GB eSIM on Claro CO for 15GB averages $0.17/hour over the same 14 days. AT&T total: $140. eSIM total: $55.50. Difference: $84.50.
A 30-day stay at $0.42/hour on AT&T reaches $300. A 50GB eSIM on Claro CO covering 50GB for video calls and streaming costs $138.90 — $0.19/hour. Total difference over 30 days: $161.10 (54%). 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 $4.77 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 $55.50 ($2.78/GB) is the best fit for this usage. Compare that to AT&T's $80 for the same 8 days on the same Claro CO towers. For heavy data users, unlimited daily plans start at $8.56/day — still cheaper than any carrier roaming 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 Claro CO at $2.78/GB fills in when hotel WiFi is overloaded.
Plan your data
Colombia connectivity: planning your GB budget
AT&T International Day Pass charges $10/day in Colombia. A 8-day trip adds $80 to your bill before you download a single map. A travel eSIM on Claro CO covers the same 8 days for $55.50 — saving $24.50 (31%).
Colombia has one mobile operator: movistar. US carriers pay movistar for roaming access and pass that cost to you at $10/day. An eSIM connects to movistar directly at $2.78/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 $55.50. Colombia draws 6.2M (2024) tourists each year, with peak arrivals in Dec-Jan and Jun-Jul when roaming charges concentrate most heavily. Colombia mobile networks deliver an average 35 Mbps download speed — the same whether you roam on AT&T or connect through a travel eSIM.
Quick reference
Colombia Travel Essentials
123
123 is the emergency number in Colombia. Save it before you arrive — do not rely on memory in an emergency. The number works from any mobile device, including travel eSIMs.
Type A/B
US plugs (Type A flat two-prong and Type B three-prong) fit Colombia's outlets directly. No adapter is needed for phones, laptops, or standard US electronics. Voltage is 120V — compatible with dual-voltage US chargers.
COT (UTC-5)
COP ($)
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: Airalo offers Colombia data at $4.77 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
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, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad 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 Claro CO costs $4.77. That is still below AT&T's International Day Pass cost for two days. If airport WiFi drops mid-install, hotel lobby WiFi provides a stable fallback for finishing the process.
Colombia FAQ
Colombia eSIM & roaming questions
How much does carrier roaming cost in Colombia?
AT&T charges $10/day on International Day Pass for Colombia. Verizon charges $10/day on TravelPass. T-Mobile includes Colombia for free at 256 Kbps — barely fast enough for text messages, not usable for maps or apps. Without any plan, AT&T's pay-per-use rate is $2.05/MB, meaning a single Google Maps session costs over $10. A travel eSIM on Claro CO starts at $4.77 for 1GB — the same 5G network at a fraction of the daily roaming cost.
Is T-Mobile's free international data fast enough in Colombia?
No. 256 Kbps sounds like it covers light use, but even a single email with an attachment or a 30-second map route takes over a minute to load at that speed. T-Mobile's free tier in Colombia is functional only for plain text messages. The paid upgrade runs $15/day — identical to AT&T's roaming fee. A travel eSIM on Claro CO at $2.78/GB costs less per GB than any day-pass option and has no speed restriction.
How is my roaming bill calculated in Colombia?
A traveler lands in Colombia, checks one notification, and AT&T bills $10 for the entire calendar day. That is how per-day billing works — any cellular connection, even a background sync at midnight, triggers the full daily charge. Without a day pass, AT&T charges $2.05/MB. A 15-second Instagram scroll could cost $30. An eSIM at 1GB for $4.77 is a fixed cost: no per-day triggers, no per-MB metering, no bill surprises.
How far in advance should I set up my eSIM for Colombia?
Install your eSIM 1-2 days before departure while connected to WiFi. QR code delivery is instant after purchase. Set the eSIM to activate when you land in Colombia — it connects to Claro CO's 5G network within minutes of arrival. Plan validity starts from first use, not from purchase date, so buying early does not waste paid data. This also gives you time to troubleshoot any installation issues before you are at the airport.
Can I get a refund on a travel eSIM for Colombia if I don't use it?
Refund policies vary by provider. Most eSIM providers offer a full refund only if the plan has never been installed or activated. Once the QR code is scanned and the profile downloaded to your device, refunds are rarely issued even if you never traveled. AT&T International Day Pass at $10/day can be cancelled before departure — your account is only billed on days the pass activates in Colombia. For an eSIM on Claro CO at $2.78/GB, read the refund clause before purchase. Plans under $10 total carry no refund window regardless of usage. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does AT&T roaming cost in Colombia?
AT&T International Day Pass charges $10/day in Colombia. Without a plan, pay-per-use rates reach $2.05/MB. A 7-day trip with a day pass costs $70. A travel eSIM on Claro CO covers the same week at roughly $29.19 at 1.5 GB/day average usage — a saving of over 80%.
Is Verizon TravelPass worth it for Colombia?
No. Verizon TravelPass costs $10/day in Colombia — $70 for a week. A travel eSIM starts at $2.78/GB on Claro CO's 5G network. The eSIM delivers the same speed on the same carrier infrastructure at 80-95% lower total cost.
What is T-Mobile's free international data speed in Colombia?
T-Mobile caps free international data at 256 Kbps in Colombia. That is too slow for GPS navigation, photo messaging, video calls, or ride-hailing apps. Basic text-only WhatsApp works. T-Mobile's paid high-speed add-on costs $15/day — the same rate as AT&T and Verizon. A travel eSIM on Claro CO at $2.78/GB delivers full 5G without per-day billing.
How do I avoid a surprise roaming bill when visiting Colombia?
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 at midnight — at $10/day. 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 $2.78/GB.
How much does carrier roaming cost for a week in Colombia?
AT&T: $70/week (International Day Pass at $10/day). Verizon: $70/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: free at 256 Kbps or $105/week for usable speed. The cheapest eSIM for Colombia starts at $2.78/GB on Claro CO's 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 $10/day. A travel eSIM on Claro CO covers Colombia for $4.77 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 $4.77 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 Airalo. Airalo covers Colombia on Claro CO's network with the widest plan selection in the market. A 1GB plan costs $4.77. Regional bundles cover neighboring countries on a single eSIM. The app tracks data usage in real time — helpful for managing a fixed-GB plan. Holafly is the alternative for heavy data users — unlimited daily plans start at $8.56/day.
Stop paying $10/day to roam in Colombia
Same towers, same speed. eSIM data costs a fraction of carrier roaming in Colombia.
Get a Colombia eSIM