To ask how much something costs in Spanish, say ¿cuánto cuesta? (KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah), or ¿cuánto cuestan? for more than one item. At the till, when you want the total, ask ¿cuánto es?, how much is it? In Spain ¿cuánto vale? is just as common. Prices come back in euros: son tres euros con cincuenta, that's €3.50.
- How much is it? (one item)
- ¿cuánto cuesta?
- How much are they?
- ¿cuánto cuestan?
- How much is it altogether?
- ¿cuánto es?
- Spain, also
- ¿cuánto vale?
- Level
- A1
Should you say ¿cuánto cuesta? or ¿cuánto es?
Point at one thing in a shop window and ask ¿cuánto cuesta? Ready to pay for everything on the counter, ask ¿cuánto es? The verb costar changes its stem, so it is cuesta for one thing and cuestan for several. At a market stall, where prices go by weight and change with the season, Spaniards ask ¿a cuánto está?
| Spanish | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | One item |
| ¿Cuánto cuestan? | How much do they cost? | Several items, or a pair |
| ¿Cuánto vale? | How much is it? | Spain; same as cuánto cuesta |
| ¿Cuánto es? | How much is that? | The total, at the till or the bar |
| ¿A cuánto están los tomates? | How much are the tomatoes? | Markets; prices per kilo |
| ¿Qué precio tiene? | What's the price? | A little more formal |
| ¿Cuánto le debo? | What do I owe you? | Formal, when paying (usted) |
Spanish states a price with por, the same word you use for thanks: por trescientos euros, for three hundred euros.
How do you understand prices in Spain?
Spain writes prices with a comma for the cents and the euro sign after the number, with a space: 3,50 €. Out loud you say tres euros con cincuenta or just tres cincuenta. Cents are céntimos. A price can also describe a thing with de: un café de tres euros is a three-euro coffee.
Son doce euros.
That's twelve euros.
Es muy caro.
It's very expensive.
¡Qué barato!
How cheap!
¿Tiene algo más barato?
Do you have anything cheaper?
How do you pay in a Spanish shop?
Card payment is everywhere in Spain, but small bars and market stalls may prefer cash for tiny amounts. The shop assistant will usually ask how you want to pay; answer with con tarjeta (by card) or en efectivo (in cash). Haggling is not normal in Spanish shops, though at flea markets such as Madrid's Rastro a little bargaining is part of the fun.
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Can I pay by card?
En efectivo, por favor.
In cash, please.
¿Me da el tique, por favor?
Could I have the receipt, please?
¿Me lo envuelve para regalo?
Could you gift-wrap it for me?
Spain; very common in shops.
In a bar or restaurant, the question becomes asking for the bill: see how to ask for the bill in Spanish. If you are just starting out, begin with the first 100 Spanish words.
What mistakes do learners make with cuánto?
Dropping the accent. In a question, cuánto carries one; without it, cuanto means "the more" in sentences like cuanto antes, mejor (the sooner, the better). Another slip is the verb ending: ¿cuánto cuesto? asks how much I cost.
Watch out for vale too. In ¿cuánto vale? it is the verb valer, to be worth. On its own, vale is Spain's everyday OK, which is explained on the page on how to say yes and no in Spanish.
Read A1 Spanish stories set in markets, flats and cafés, and tap any word to see what it means.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between ¿cuánto cuesta? and ¿cuánto es?
¿Cuánto cuesta? asks the price of a particular item. ¿Cuánto es? asks for the amount you have to pay right now, usually the total at the till.
How do you say it's too expensive in Spanish?
Es demasiado caro, or, for a feminine noun, es demasiado cara. In casual Spain Spanish: ¡es carísimo!, it's really pricey.
How do you say how much does it cost per kilo?
¿A cuánto está el kilo? or ¿cuánto cuesta el kilo? At Spanish markets you can ask for medio kilo (half a kilo) or un cuarto de kilo (a quarter).
What does ¿cuánto le debo? mean?
What do I owe you? It is a polite way to ask for the total, especially for a service such as a repair or a taxi. With tú: ¿cuánto te debo?
How do you say €2.50 in Spanish?
Dos euros con cincuenta, or simply dos cincuenta. Spain writes it 2,50 €.