USA vs Colombia Surgery Savings: How to Calculate the Real Difference

Two common errors on the U.S. side

Errors on the U.S. side push the difference in opposite directions, so it's worth checking which one you've made.

Error 1: using a list price

Hospital list prices (chargemaster rates) can be much higher than anyone actually pays. Compare a Colombian package against one and the savings will look far bigger than they really are. If you're paying yourself, the number to use is a written estimate. Under federal rules, providers generally have to give self-pay patients a Good Faith Estimate when care is scheduled at least three business days ahead, or on request. Each estimate covers only one provider or facility, so you'll need one from the surgeon and one from the facility (CMS, 2026).

Error 2: using a surgeon-only average

The opposite mistake is comparing an all-inclusive Colombian package with a published U.S. average that only covers the surgeon's fee. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes average costs based on figures from the member surgeons it surveys. On its eyelid surgery cost page, for example, it says the average is only part of the total price and doesn't include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses (ASPS, 2026). Compared against a full package abroad, that understates the U.S. cost, and so understates your savings.

For reference, here are some of the ranges in ASPS's 2024 average-cost report, in U.S. dollars. The report describes them as an aggregate projection based on averages submitted by surveyed members (ASPS, 2024):

Use these to sanity-check the surgeon's part of your own U.S. estimate, not as your U.S. total. Going by ASPS's own explanation of what its averages leave out, your real U.S. number adds facility, anesthesia, tests and supplies, and that full figure is what a Colombian package has to beat.

If you have insurance

If your plan would cover the procedure, your U.S. number is your share of the cost under the plan, not the self-pay price. For many cosmetic procedures, coverage isn't the issue: ASPS notes that most health insurance doesn't cover cosmetic surgery or its complications. Either way, find out which applies before comparing. If coverage would cap your share, the comparison changes completely. See insured but still saving.

The Colombia side: what's particular to Colombia

Most of the Colombia side is the usual trip budget: the itemized clinic quote, flights, lodging for the stay your surgeon requires, local transport, a companion, medicines and supplies. A few details are particular to Colombia and change the numbers.

Entry and the return ticket

The State Department says U.S. citizens don't need a visa for stays of 90 days or less, and that the passport must be valid on entry and for the length of the stay. It also warns you may be refused entry without a return ticket (U.S. State Department, 2025). That means pricing a changeable return flight from the start. See avoiding the nonrefundable-flight trap.

Paying up front, often in cash

The same State Department page says hospitals and doctors often want payment before treatment or admission, that card payment isn't always possible, and that most providers abroad accept only cash. It also says amounts over US$10,000 must be declared on entering or leaving Colombia, with proof of where the money came from. How you pay affects your fees, your exchange rate and your protection if plans change. Price it as a line of its own. See wire transfer vs credit card.

Currency of the quote

Colombian providers may quote in Colombian pesos or in U.S. dollars. A peso quote changes in dollar terms until you pay. A dollar quote paid locally depends on whatever rate the provider uses. Write down which currency each quote is in and the rate you've assumed.

Insurance for the trip

The State Department notes that Medicare and Medicaid don't work abroad and that most providers overseas don't accept U.S. health insurance. It strongly recommends supplemental insurance that covers medical evacuation. The CDC also suggests supplemental medical and evacuation cover (CDC Yellow Book, 2026). Put that premium on the Colombia side.

A comparison sheet that records where each number came from

Each row below asks for two numbers and where each one came from. Writing down the source is how you catch the two errors above.

The last row is easy to overlook. With surgery at home, routine follow-up is usually part of your surgeon's care. After surgery in Colombia, the visits once you're home are separate, and the CDC advises arranging that local follow-up before you travel. Price those visits, and bring your records in English so your local doctor doesn't have to repeat tests.

Don't charge Colombia for things the U.S. option needs too

A fair comparison also takes out costs that aren't really caused by going to Colombia. Three are worth checking.

• Travel within the U.S. If the U.S. surgeon you'd actually choose isn't near you, the U.S. option has its own travel, a hotel and perhaps a companion. Put those on the U.S. side rather than treating it as free.
• Tests before surgery. Some Colombian clinics ask for blood work or imaging before you fly. Your U.S. surgeon would order similar tests. If the tests are the same either way, count them once. Ask the Colombian clinic which recent results from home it will accept, so you don't pay for them twice.
• Recovery time. You'd need time off to recover after surgery in Houston or in Medellín. Count only the extra days the international travel adds.

These adjustments usually help the Colombia side a little. They also make the final number more reliable, because you can defend every line.

Read the result in dollars

Subtract the Colombia total from the U.S. total. That figure in dollars is your real difference. It's usually smaller than the gap between the two procedure prices, and that's expected. It's the number that's left after everything is counted.

Then ask two questions. Would the difference survive a slower recovery: a few more nights, a changed flight, another clinic visit? And would you still choose this Colombian surgeon and facility if the prices were equal? If the answer to either is no, the gap isn't strong enough on its own to justify the trip. For the general method that applies to any destination, see how to calculate your true savings.

Frequently asked questions

What U.S. price should I compare a Colombian quote against?

The amount you'd actually pay: the surgeon's and facility's Good Faith Estimates added together (plus any other provider's) if you're self-paying, or your share of the cost under your plan if you're insured.

Are the ASPS average costs the full price of surgery in the U.S.?

No. ASPS says the average cost is only part of the total and doesn't include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses.

Do I need a visa for surgery in Colombia?

The State Department says U.S. citizens don't need a visa for stays of 90 days or less. Your passport must be valid for the whole stay, and you may need a return ticket to be allowed in.

Can I pay a Colombian clinic by credit card?

Sometimes. The State Department notes that card payment isn't always available and that many providers abroad accept only cash. Ask the clinic early which methods it accepts and what each costs.

Will Medicare cover surgery in Colombia?

No. The State Department notes that Medicare and Medicaid don't work abroad. Budget for supplemental cover, including medical evacuation.