costo
/KOHS-toh/
cost
The costo refers to the price or expense associated with an item.
📝 In Action
El costo del billete de avión es muy alto.
A1The cost of the plane ticket is very high.
Necesitamos reducir los costos operativos.
B1We need to reduce the operating costs.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Since 'costo' is masculine, always use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el costo' (the cost), 'un costo' (a cost).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'costo' and 'costa'
Mistake: "Using 'la costo' (incorrect gender)."
Correction: Always use 'el costo' (the price/expense). 'La costa' means 'the coast' or 'the shore'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for Price
A polite and common way to ask for the price is: '¿Cuál es el costo de esto?' (What is the cost of this?)
El costo can also mean the sacrifice, effort, or loss required to achieve something.
costo(noun)
sacrifice
?effort or loss required
toll
?heavy price or consequence
,damage
?negative impact
📝 In Action
La decisión tuvo un costo político muy alto para el presidente.
B2The decision had a very high political cost for the president.
El éxito se logró, pero con un costo enorme en tiempo personal.
B1Success was achieved, but at an enormous cost in personal time.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning describes effort or consequences, often paired with abstract nouns like 'emocional' (emotional) or 'humano' (human).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: costo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'costo' in its figurative sense (meaning sacrifice or effort)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'costo' and 'costa'?
'El costo' (masculine) means the price or expense. 'La costa' (feminine) has two meanings: it can mean 'the coast' or 'the shore,' OR it can be a specific form of the verb 'costar' (to cost), as in 'cueste lo que cueste' (cost what it may).
Can I use 'costo' and 'precio' interchangeably?
Often, yes. Both mean 'price.' However, 'costo' often refers more specifically to the internal expense or production price for a business, while 'precio' is usually the final amount charged to the customer. For everyday use, 'precio' is slightly more common when asking how much something is.