Colombian Congress Members Earn, by Far, More Than Other Latin American Legislators

Colombian congress members earn significantly higher salaries compared to legislators in other Latin American countries, according to a report by the Legislative Directory. This disparity has remained consistent since 2026, despite efforts to reduce their pay.

Colombia ranks first in the region, with senators and representatives earning US$17,654 per month. This is a 48.5% increase from the previous year. Mexico's senators follow with US$11,068 per month, and Uruguay's legislators earn US$9,920. Peru, Brazil, and Chile also have legislators in the top five, with salaries of US$9,471, US$9,088, and US$9,007, respectively.

Costa Rica's deputies receive US$8,810 per month, while Guatemala's deputies earn US$8,032. Argentina and Mexico present unique cases, as they have structural salary differences between their chambers. In Mexico, deputies earn US$6,408, and in Argentina, senators and deputies have different salary scales.

Of the countries studied, only Honduras saw a decrease in the value of legislators' allocations, falling from US$4,601 to US$3,833, representing a 16.7% decrease.

Despite efforts to reduce salaries in Colombia over the past decade, all attempts have failed. In 2024, salaries for parliamentarians were increased by 10.8% through a decree signed by then-Finance Minister Ricardo Bonilla during Gustavo Petro's administration. However, there continues to be strong resistance within the Colombian Legislature to changing monthly allocations, even as public opinion polls reveal a predominantly unfavorable perception of the Congress of the Republic among Colombians.