Shopping and Daily Life in Colombia: Supermarkets, Plazas, Delivery
Colombia · Step by Step
Key Facts
- Hard discount rules. D1, Ara and Ísimo dominate everyday grocery shopping with low prices and a tight range.
- Full supermarkets. Éxito, Carulla, Jumbo and Olímpica cover big shops and imported goods.
- Cheapest fresh food. Plazas de mercado like Bogotá’s Paloquemao and Medellín’s Minorista beat any supermarket.
- Delivery king. Rappi, Colombia’s home-grown super-app, brings groceries, food and pharmacy items in under an hour.
- Pharmacies and home goods. Cruz Verde, Farmatodo and La Rebaja for medicine; Homecenter and Alkosto for the house.
Most daily shopping in Colombia happens at hard-discount stores like D1, Ara and Ísimo, with Éxito and Carulla for bigger shops and Rappi for delivery. Here is how shopping in Colombia actually works.
Hard-discount stores: the everyday default
This is where most Colombians shop. D1 is the market leader with thousands of stores, while Ara, owned by Portugal’s Jerónimo Martins, is close behind.
Ísimo, part of the Olímpica group, filled the gap left when Justo & Bueno collapsed in 2022. All three are small, cheap and stock a limited set of mostly own-brand goods, which is perfect for a weekly top-up.
Full supermarkets
For a bigger shop or imported brands, the full supermarkets take over. Éxito is the national heavyweight, Carulla is its upmarket sibling, and Jumbo and Olímpica round out the field.
These carry fresh counters, household goods and international products that the discounters skip. Expect to pay noticeably more for anything imported, from cheese to peanut butter.
Plazas de mercado and tiendas de barrio
The cheapest, freshest produce is at the plaza de mercado. Bogotá’s Paloquemao and Medellín’s Plaza Minorista sell fruit, vegetables, meat and flowers at a fraction of supermarket prices.
For everyday convenience there is the tienda de barrio, the corner shop on almost every block. They sell single portions, often extend informal credit to regulars, and are the heart of neighbourhood life.
Delivery: Rappi and the apps
Colombia practically runs on Rappi, the home-grown super-app. It delivers groceries from Éxito, Carulla and D1, restaurant meals, pharmacy items and even cash, usually within the hour.
Coverage is strongest in Bogotá, Medellín and the other big cities. Tip the rappitendero, keep small cash for the door, and you can run much of daily life from your phone.
Pharmacies, household and electronics
Pharmacy chains are everywhere and often deliver. Cruz Verde, Farmatodo, La Rebaja and Locatel handle prescriptions and everyday medicine, and many basics are cheaper than at home.
For furniture and appliances, Homecenter is the Colombian equivalent of a big-box hardware store, alongside Falabella, Alkosto and the Ktronix electronics chain. Between them you can furnish an apartment in an afternoon.
The bottom line
The simplest routine is D1 or Ara for the weekly basics, a plaza de mercado for fresh produce, and a full supermarket for everything else. Rappi fills the gaps without leaving the sofa.
Keep some cash for corner shops and markets, since not every small vendor takes cards. Do that and daily shopping becomes one of the easier, and cheaper, parts of life in Colombia.
More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most people buy groceries in Colombia?
At hard-discount chains D1, Ara and Ísimo for everyday basics, and at full supermarkets like Éxito and Carulla for bigger shops and imported goods. Plazas de mercado are cheapest for fresh produce.
What is the main delivery app?
Rappi, Colombia’s home-grown super-app, dominates. It delivers groceries, restaurant food, pharmacy items and cash, usually within an hour in the major cities.
Are plazas de mercado worth it?
Yes. Markets such as Bogotá’s Paloquemao and Medellín’s Plaza Minorista sell fruit, vegetables and meat far cheaper and fresher than supermarkets. Bring cash and go early.
Where do I buy medicine and household goods?
Pharmacy chains like Cruz Verde, Farmatodo and La Rebaja cover medicine and often deliver. For furniture and appliances, try Homecenter, Falabella, Alkosto and Ktronix.
Do I need cash, or is card enough?
Cards and Rappi work across supermarkets and chains, but corner shops and market stalls often prefer cash. Keep some pesos on hand for tiendas de barrio and plazas.
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