The Gringo Tax
How much you're overpaying, where it happens, and what to do about it. The price difference between looking like a tourist and looking like you've been here before.
The Reality
The "gringo tax" isn't usually explicit pricing—it's implicit markup through venue tier selection. Tourists naturally funnel to Poblado and upscale venues (3-5x pricier) instead of finding Centro and La 70 deals. The venues that cater to tourists add premiums. The venues dominated by locals (70%+ Colombian) keep prices fair.
The prices vary by night, by venue tier, and by how gringo you look. Thursday is cheaper than Saturday. La 33 is cheaper than Poblado. Looking like you've been here before? Priceless. Actually, it just means fewer upsells.
The Same Thing, Different Prices
| Item | Centro | La 70 | La 33 | Poblado | Markup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer | 4-10k | 8-15k | 12-25k | 15-25k | 3-5x |
| Cocktail | 10-20k | 20-35k | 25-40k | 35-60k | 3-4x |
| Cover | 0-10k | 0-20k | 5-20k | 30-80k | 4-8x |
| Lady drink | 10-25k | — | 30-50k | 40-80k | 3-4x |
| Spa (30 min) | $20-25 | $50 | — | $50-100 | 2-4x |
Prices in Colombian pesos (COP) unless noted. 1 USD ≈ 4,000 COP.
Location Economics
Poblado: The Tourist Trap
Premium pricing: 3-5x multiplier over Centro/La 70. English menus, foreigner-friendly, Instagram-ready. The safety premium is real—but you're paying for it.
- • Parque Lleras: Inflated prices, walkable and safe
- • Provenza: Boutique markup, craft cocktail premium
- • Rooftops: 45-55k cocktails, 300k table minimums
- • La Oculta: "The password is money"
La 70 / Laureles: Local Prices
95% Colombian crowd. No gringo tax because there aren't enough gringos to tax. You're drinking with locals who've been coming here since before Escobar was a Netflix show.
- • El Tibiri: NO COVER, 9k beer, since 1992
- • Regular bars: 8-15k beers, 20-35k cocktails
- • 2-3 nights here = 1 night in Poblado
- • Authentic experience, authentic pricing
La 33: Fair Strip Club Pricing
70% Colombian crowd keeps prices reasonable. Nobody's trying to sell you a $500 bottle that tastes like fizzy regret. The hustle stays minimal.
- • Bada Boom: Prices reasonable, hustle minimal
- • Shows every 15 min—no waiting premium
- • Better value than Poblado for same experience
- • Still markup, but honest markup
Centro: No Tax (Because No Gringos)
Cheapest prices because there aren't enough tourists to create a market for markup. Beer runs 4,000 pesos at Conejitas. That's roughly a dollar.
- • New Life Casa: $20 spa vs $100 Poblado
- • 4 Centro adventures = 1 La Isla VIP room
- • Trade-off: Safety rating 4-5/10
- • Prices drop when you leave the gringo bubble
Best Value Venues
9/10
El Tibiri
No cover. 9k beer. Salsa since 1992. The entire business model.
9/10
New Life Casa
$20 spa. Fast food efficiency. Best value in the city.
8/10
Bada Boom
70% Colombian crowd. Prices stay reasonable. Hustle minimal.
8/10
Conejitas
4k beer. Zero English reviews. No tourist info = no tourist markup.
How to Pay Less
What's Negotiable
- ✓VIP rooms and private time (especially slow nights)
- ✓Extended services at spas
- ✓Salida fees (the house cut)
- ✓Bottle service packages
What's Fixed
- ✗Drink prices (don't haggle)
- ✗Cover charges
- ✗Standard lap dance prices
- ✗Menu items at restaurants
The Approach
Be respectful but firm. If a price seems too high, it probably is. Walk away. Cash is king, negotiation is expected. Looking like you've done this before gets you 10-20% better pricing automatically.
Hidden Costs (50-100k/night minimum)
Tips & Fees
- • Bathroom: 2-5k COP
- • Doorman: 5-10k COP
- • Waitress: 10-20k COP
- • Security: 10k COP
- • Dancer: 50k+ COP
Surcharges
- • ATM fees: $5-10 per withdrawal
- • Credit card: 10-20% markup
- • Uber surge (3 AM): 2x normal
- • VIP table minimum: 300-600k
Next-Day Costs
- • 3 AM hunger: 20-50k
- • Hangover recovery: 30-50k
- • Lost items replacement: ???
- • Regret: priceless
What Your Budget Gets
Budget Night
$40-60
- • Bada Boom or La 33 venue
- • 4 beers
- • Cover included
- • Tips covered
- • Uber both ways
Standard Night
$100-150
- • La Isla or Fase II
- • Cover + 5 drinks
- • Lady drinks included
- • 15-min VIP room
- • Full experience, memorable
Baller Night
$250-500+
- • Bottle service (sparklers included)
- • VIP table minimum
- • Multiple VIP sessions
- • Uber surge pricing
- • Stories you'll regret
Money Rules
Cash Strategy
Withdraw larger amounts less frequently (ATM fees add up). Keep cash separated—nightlife cash in one pocket, emergency stash elsewhere. Never show your full stack.
Budget 30% More
The "just one more" effect is real. Whatever you planned to spend, add 30%. Tip creep, surprise rounds, 3 AM empanadas—it adds up faster than you think.
Weeknight Discount
Thursday is 30-50% cheaper than Saturday. Same venues, same experience, fewer crowds, better treatment. The gringo tax is highest on weekends.
No English = No Markup
Venues with zero English reviews (Conejitas, local La 70 spots) don't have enough tourists to justify gringo pricing. The translation gap is your discount.