💱 Exchange Rate
USD/COP Falls to 3,660 — What Dollar Earners in Medellín Need to Know
Published February 18, 2026 · 4 min read · By Medellín Rainbow News Desk
⚠️ Rate change: The COP has strengthened ~13% since November 2025. If you budgeted based on 4,200 COP/USD, your costs have effectively risen ~15%. Recalculate your budget using current rates.
3,660
Current COP per USD (Feb 2026)
4,200
COP per USD (Nov 2025)
-13%
USD purchasing power change
+15%
Effective cost increase for USD earners
The Colombian peso has experienced a significant strengthening against the US dollar since late 2025. As of February 18, 2026, 1 USD buys approximately 3,660 COP — down from 4,200 COP in November 2025. This 13% appreciation of the peso means that for every $1,000 USD you bring to Medellín, you receive about 540,000 fewer pesos than you would have three months ago.
How This Affects Your Budget
If your monthly Medellín budget was calculated based on the 4,200 COP/USD rate, here's the practical impact:
| Item | At 4,200 COP/USD | At 3,660 COP/USD | Difference |
|---|
| 1BR apartment in Laureles (2M COP/mo) | $476 | $547 | +$71 |
| Monthly grocery budget (600k COP) | $143 | $164 | +$21 |
| Comfortable monthly budget (6M COP) | $1,429 | $1,639 | +$210 |
Why Did the Peso Strengthen?
Several factors contributed to the peso's appreciation:
- Global dollar weakness: The Trump administration's economic policies contributed to broader US dollar weakness against emerging market currencies.
- Oil prices: Colombia is a significant oil exporter. Rising global energy prices boosted peso demand.
- Tourism inflows: Record visitor numbers brought more foreign currency into Colombia.
- Remittance growth: Increased Colombian diaspora remittances supported the peso.
Optimizing Your Currency Exchange
✅ Best Practices for USD → COP in Medellín
- Wise (formerly TransferWise): Best mid-market rates for wire transfers. Use Bancolombia account to receive.
- Bancolombia ATMs in malls: Best ATM rates — use inside Santafé, El Tesoro, or Unicentro malls.
- Revolut: Excellent for smaller daily withdrawals, freeze/unfreeze card feature is useful for security.
- Avoid: Airport money changers (spread of 200–400 COP per dollar vs. mid-market), hotel exchanges, and Western Union for large amounts.
- Never use: Street money changers — high risk of scam and counterfeit notes.
Will the Rate Continue to Change?
Currency forecasting is notoriously unreliable. Colombia's benchmark interest rate sits at 9.25% as of early 2026, higher than the US Fed rate, which theoretically supports the peso. However, political uncertainty ahead of Colombia's May 2026 elections and the ongoing minimum wage dispute may introduce volatility. The 52-week range has been 3,592–4,464 COP per dollar — a very wide band.
Budget strategy: Use the
Medellín Rainbow cost calculator with real-time exchange rates. Budget conservatively at 3,500 COP/USD to account for potential further peso strengthening.
Sources: Investing.com, XE.com, Trading Economics, Wise. Updated February 18, 2026.
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