Last updated: October 4, 2026 · Next scheduled review: January 2027
In Cartagena, the same food can cost two or three times more depending on the street: an arepa de huevo is COP 3,000–6,000 at a neighborhood stall but COP 8,000–15,000 in tourist areas, and a fried-fish lunch runs COP 20,000–35,000 versus COP 50,000–90,000. This table brings together the 2026 reference prices we have verified, each with its source and date, so you know what to pay before you sit down.
Cartagena food and drink price table (2026)
| Item | Local area (COP) | Tourist area (COP) | ≈ USD (local / tourist) | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arepa de huevo (egg-stuffed corn fritter) | 3,000–6,000 | 8,000–15,000 | 0.9–1.8 / 2.4–4.5 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Empanada | 1,500–3,000 | 5,000–10,000 | 0.5–0.9 / 1.5–3.0 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Carimañola (yuca fritter) | 2,500–5,000 | — | 0.8–1.5 | Nomado Travel (undated); El Universal, Jan 2025 |
| Palenquera fruit salad | 5,000–10,000 | 15,000–25,000 | 1.5–3.0 / 4.5–7.5 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Fresh juice or coconut lemonade | 3,000–6,000 | 10,000–18,000 | 0.9–1.8 / 3.0–5.4 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Local beer | 3,500–6,000 | 10,000–18,000 | 1.1–1.8 / 3.0–5.4 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Specialty coffee / espresso | 3,000–6,000 | 8,000–15,000 | 0.9–1.8 / 2.4–4.5 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Traditional ceviche | 18,000–35,000 | 45,000–85,000 | 5.4–10.6 / 13.6–25.7 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Fried-fish lunch (with coconut rice and patacones) | 20,000–35,000 | 50,000–90,000 | 6.0–10.6 / 15.1–27.2 | Exoticca, Aug 2026 |
| Small cocada (Portal de los Dulces) | — | 1,000–2,000 (large from 10,000) | 0.3–0.6 | Colombia.com, Jul 2026 |
| Raspao (shaved ice) | 2,000–4,000 | — | 0.6–1.2 | Nomado Travel (undated) |
| Main course at a traditional Old Town restaurant (e.g., posta negra) | 28,000–38,000 (La Mulata, 2025) · 38,000–62,000 (La Cocina de Pepina, 2026) | 8.5–11.5 / 11.5–18.7 | Mochileando por el Mundo, Feb 2025; The Cartagena Guide, 2026 | |
Why do prices vary so much?
Location is the main factor. Inside the walled city and on the beaches, rents and tourist demand push prices up; at street stalls in Getsemaní or near Bazurto market, street food costs a fraction. Season matters too: December–January, Easter week and mid-year bring more demand and more overcharging complaints.
Your rights as a consumer: visible prices, taxes included
- Cartagena Decree 003 of 2024: businesses must show prices in Colombian pesos, taxes included, in a visible place. You only have to pay the advertised price; if several prices are shown you pay the lowest, and crossed-out or amended prices are not allowed (per Semana and Noticias RCN, January 2024).
- Tipping: the “suggested service” charge (usually 10%) is voluntary; you can ask for it to be removed.
- If you’re overcharged: ask for the menu and the bill, take a photo and file a complaint with Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) or the city’s tourist-assistance channels. In September 2026, Publimetro reported a complaint about a piña colada listed at COP 45,000 and charged at COP 100,000 after a menu swap.
Tips to eat well without overpaying
- Always ask the price before ordering from street stalls and on beaches.
- Carry small bills: many vendors can’t break COP 50,000 or 100,000 notes.
- Have lunch outside the most touristy blocks or at home-style restaurants; our guide to where to eat in Cartagena’s Old Town will help you choose.
- Try local dishes where Cartageneros eat them: see our guides to posta negra cartagenera and Cartagena’s traditional sweets.
- First time in town? Plan your day with our complete walled city guide.
Methodology
We compiled prices published in 2025–2026 by media and guides that separate local and tourist areas, checked each figure against its original source on October 4, 2026, and excluded data older than 2025 (for example, the “corrientazo” set lunch, whose latest published Cartagena figure dates from 2023). We will review the table every quarter. [COMPLETE: describe our own field check here if added.]
Want to use this table?
Journalists, bloggers and travel agencies are welcome to quote or reproduce this data, as long as they link to this page as the source: “Source: Cartagena Taste, Cartagena Food Prices 2026”.
FAQ
How much does food cost per day in Cartagena in 2026?
Eating street food and local lunches, about COP 40,000–70,000 per person (≈ USD 12–21), based on the ranges in this table. Eating at Old Town restaurants can triple that.
How much is an arepa de huevo in Cartagena?
COP 3,000–6,000 at neighborhood stalls and COP 8,000–15,000 in tourist areas (Exoticca, August 2026).
How much is a beer in Cartagena?
A local beer costs COP 3,500–6,000 in shops and local areas and COP 10,000–18,000 in tourist bars and beaches.
Do restaurants in Cartagena have to display prices?
Yes. Cartagena’s Decree 003 of 2024 requires prices in pesos, taxes included and clearly displayed; customers only have to pay the advertised price.
Sources
- Exoticca – Cartagena on a budget: what things really cost in 2026 (07/29/2026)
- Colombia.com – Portal de los Dulces: sweets and prices (07/21/2026)
- Nomado Travel – Cartagena Street Food Guide
- El Universal – 5 Cartagena fritters (01/27/2025)
- Mochileando por el Mundo – Where to eat in Cartagena (02/2025)
- The Cartagena Guide – Best Restaurants in Cartagena (2026)
- Semana – Cartagena decree against overcharging (01/02/2024)
- Noticias RCN – Measures against tourist scams in Cartagena (01/04/2024)
- Publimetro – Overcharging complaint in Cartagena (09/14/2026)
- Official exchange rate (TRM), October 1, 2026
