Colombia · South America
Cali, Colombia: cost, safety and best time to visit (2026)
Population: 2.4MCurrency: COPTime zone: America/Bogota
US travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Best months to visit
Jan, Feb, Jul and Sep
highest visit score, Open-Meteo climate record
About Cali
Cali is a city of about 2.4 million people in southwestern Colombia, and it is not the national capital. Daily travel costs are estimated at $35 for a budget trip, $85 for a mid-range one, and $185 for a luxury one, which add up to $245, $595, and $1,295 over a week. These figures reflect Colombia's overall price level, which sits well below many Western countries even after adjusting for city size. The climate stays warm all year, with highs generally in the mid-to-upper 20s Celsius and sunshine averaging around 9 to 10.6 hours a day. The months with the strongest visit scores are January, February, July, and September, when rainfall drops and sunshine hours climb. Peak season extends to include August, while February through April are the quietest and cheapest months. Travelers should also know that Colombia carries a Level 3 US State Department advisory and detailed UK guidance about crime and armed group activity, both written at the country level rather than describing Cali specifically. Together, these factors shape when and how most visitors plan a trip here.
Weather through the year
Average high in °C and monthly rainfall in mm, from the Open-Meteo archive.
Jan
27°
146mm
Feb
27°
203mm
Mar
27°
269mm
Apr
26°
277mm
May
26°
241mm
Jun
26°
196mm
Jul
27°
103mm
Aug
28°
161mm
Sep
29°
149mm
Oct
27°
274mm
Nov
26°
357mm
Dec
27°
216mm
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a week in Cali cost?
A week works out to about $245 on a budget itinerary, $595 for mid-range travel, or $1,295 for a luxury trip. These totals come from the daily estimates of $35, $85, and $185 multiplied across seven days.
When is the best time to visit Cali?
January, February, July, and September have the highest visit scores, thanks to lower rainfall and more sunshine hours per day compared to the rest of the year. August also falls within the broader peak season alongside these months.
Is Cali safe to visit?
Colombia carries a Level 3, Reconsider Travel, advisory from the US State Department, and UK guidance describes crime risks such as pickpocketing, armed robbery, and express kidnapping in major cities including Cali. Both advisories are set at the country level rather than being specific to Cali alone.
Can you visit Cali on a tight budget?
Yes, the budget estimate of $35 a day is built around hostel-style lodging, cheap local meals, and public transportation. Travelers sticking to that tier can expect a full week to run around $245.
When is the cheapest time to visit Cali?
February, March, and April are listed as the off-season, meaning it is both the quietest and the most affordable stretch of the year. This is separate from the peak months of January, February, July, August, and September, when demand and prices tend to rise.
What should I budget for food and getting around?
A cheap local meal typically costs around $5 and a sit-down restaurant dinner around $18, while a short bus or taxi ride runs about $2. These smaller costs feed into the overall daily estimates of $35 to $185 depending on travel style.
Keep reading
Where it ranks
Country
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
- World Bank price level and exchange rate — CC BY 4.0, data year 2025
- US State Department travel advisories — public domain, fetched September 21, 2026
- UK FCDO foreign travel advice — Open Government Licence v3, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.