2026 Minimum Wage in Colombia: Daily, Hourly Value and Transportation 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 roller coaster regarding payroll. Honestly, settling payments sometimes feels like solving a Sudoku at an expert level, especially with the recent changes in the workday and last-minute court decisions.

But don't worry, my friend. Here is the definitive, updated guide so you don't make costly mistakes with the UGPP or your employees.

Legal Update: The July 2026 ruling that cleared up the doubts

Pay attention to 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, on July 17, 2026, the Council of State revoked that provisional suspension.

What does this mean in practice? That the 23% increase remains fully valid and in force while the underlying lawsuit is resolved. So, the official values do not change and are mandatory for all employers in the country. No excuses.

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

To settle vacations, disability leaves, or pay for day workers, you need to be very clear about the daily value. 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 reference minimum daily wage is $58,364 COP (rounded).

The New Ordinary Hourly Work (42-Hour Workweek Effect)

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, on July 15, 2026 , the maximum workday in Colombia was officially reduced to 42 hours per week..

Since 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..

Complete Table of Overtime and Surcharges (Valid as of July 2026)

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

How Much Does an Employee on 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 end-of-year payments without depleting your capital, take a look at our complete guide for the liquidation of severance and labor benefits in Colombia..

Adapting to the $1,750,905 COP minimum wage and the new 42-hour workweek requires order, but it gives you the peace of mind of operating 100% within the law. To expand the context, consult our general guide on the 2026 minimum wage. And now that you are clear on the rules of the game, 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, results in a total income of exactly $2,000,000 COP.

❓ How much is a day of work worth with the minimum wage in 2026?

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

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

Since July 15, 2026, the minimum ordinary hourly rate is $8,338 COP, due to the final reduction of the workday to 42 hours per week.

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

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

❓ How much are daytime and nighttime overtime hours worth with the 42-hour work week?

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 allowance in 2026?

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