Minimum Wage 2026 in Colombia: Daily, Hourly Value, and Transport Allowance

If you have a company, a local business, or work as a freelancer in Colombia, you know that 2026 has been a real legal rollercoaster with payroll. To be honest, calculating payments sometimes feels like solving an expert-level sudoku, especially with recent changes in working hours and last-minute court decisions.

But don't worry, buddy. Here's the definitive and updated guide so you don't make costly mistakes with the UGPP or with your employees.

Legal Update: The July 2026 ruling that cleared up doubts

Watch out for this, because it caused a lot of confusion at the beginning of the year. As you may recall, Decree 1469 of 2025, which set the 23% increase, was provisionally suspended in February. However, the July 17, 2026, the Council of State overturned that provisional suspension.

What does this mean in practice? That the 23% increase remains fully in effect and firm while the main lawsuit is being resolved. Therefore, the official values do not change and are mandatory for all employers in the country. Zero excuses.

The Daily Minimum Wage in 2026 (and how it affects payments)

To settle vacation pay, sick leave, or the payment of daily workers, you need to be very clear about the daily rate. In Colombia, the standard calculation is based on a 30-day work month.

Taking the base salary of $1,750,905 COP and dividing it by 30, the daily reference minimum wage is $58,364 COP (rounded).

The New Ordinary Working Hour (Effect of 42 Weekly Hours)

This is where things get interesting and where many companies can mess up if they don't update their payroll software. In compliance with Law 2101 of 2021, the July 15, 2026 the maximum working day in Colombia was officially reduced to 42 hours per week.

As employees now work fewer hours for the same salary, the value of the hour goes up. The monthly divisor we used before (220 hours) is now history. You must now use a divisor of 210 hours.

Therefore, the value of the minimum ordinary hour in effect since July 15, 2026, became $8,338 COP.

Full Table of Overtime and Surcharges (Effective July 2026)

With the new ordinary hour value and the changes from Law 2466 of 2025, this is how the surcharges will be. Save this table, it will save your life when calculating payroll:

Type of Work	Legal Surcharge	Hourly Rate (COP)
Ordinary Daytime Hour	N/A	$8.338
Overtime - Day	25%	$10.422
Ordinary Night Time	35%	$11.256
Night Overtime	75%	$14.591
Ordinary Sunday or Feast Day Time	100%	$16,676

How Much Does an Employee with Minimum Wage Cost a Company in 2026?

The monthly salary is not the only item a company must budget for. If you want to delve deeper into how to provision year-end payments without depleting your capital, take a look at our complete guide to the settlement of severance pay and labor benefits in Colombia.

Adapting to the $1,750,905 COP minimum wage and the new 42-hour workday requires order, but it gives you the peace of mind of operating 100% within the law. For more context, check out our general guide to the 2026 minimum wage. And now that you have the rules of the game clear, it's time to assemble your team. To help you in that process, we have enabled our free job board for Colombia, where you can connect directly with local professionals without intermediaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the value of the monthly minimum wage in Colombia for 2026?

The monthly minimum wage for 2026 is $1,750,905 COP, which, added to the transportation allowance of $249,095 COP, gives a total income of exactly $2,000,000 COP.

❓ How much is a workday with the minimum wage in 2026?

The value of an ordinary workday in 2026 is equivalent to $58,364 COP, calculated on the legal basis of 30 days per month.

❓ How much does an ordinary hour of work cost in Colombia after the July 2026 change?

Starting July 15, 2026, the minimum ordinary hourly wage will be $8,338 COP, due to the definitive reduction of the workweek to 42 hours.

❓ What did the Council of State decide regarding the minimum wage for 2026 in July?

On July 17, 2026, the Council of State overturned the provisional suspension of Decree 1469 of 2025, confirming that the 23% increase remains fully in effect.

❓ What is the equivalent value of a daytime and nighttime overtime hour with a 42-hour workweek?

The daytime overtime hour (25% surcharge) is valued at $10,422 COP, while the nighttime overtime hour (75% surcharge) is equivalent to $14,591 COP.

❓ Who is entitled to receive the transportation subsidy in 2026?

All dependent employees earning up to two minimum monthly wages are entitled to receive it, which is equivalent to a limit of $3,501,810 COP in 2026.