Money at Medellín–José María Córdova International (Rionegro) (MDE)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Medellín, Colombia.
Medellín uses the COP ($). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly COP$20,000–COP$120,000. Cash preferred for taxis; small COP notes.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Medellín–José María Córdova International (Rionegro) (MDE)?
Colombia uses the COP ($). Airport ATMs dispense COP directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from MDE to the city cost?
Expected fare on the MDE → El Poblado route is roughly COP$20,000–COP$120,000. Around COP$180,000+ is already high, and COP$250,000+ unauthorized is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at MDE?
Not expected. Drivers in Colombia don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at MDE?
Cash preferred for taxis; small COP notes. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of COP notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at MDE?
Only if you need $10–20 of COP to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.