Inklingo

How to Say "it costs" in Spanish

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cuesta

KWEH-stah/ˈkwesta/

VerbA1General
Use 'cuesta' when directly asking or stating the price of an item or service in a general context.
A close-up of a hand placing a large gold coin next to a bright red apple, illustrating the concept of cost or expense.

Examples

¿Cuánto cuesta esta camisa?

How much does this shirt cost?

Me cuesta levantarme temprano.

It is difficult for me to get up early. (Literally: It costs me to get up early.)

A él le cuesta hablar en público.

It is hard for him to speak in public.

Stem-Changing Verb

The 'o' in the root changes to 'ue' in most present tense forms, except for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms. This makes it irregular.

Using 'Cuesta' for Difficulty

When expressing difficulty, Spanish uses 'cuesta' with an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, etc.): 'Me cuesta' means 'I find it hard' or 'It's hard for me.'

Using 'Cuesta' vs. 'Cuestan'

Mistake: “Using 'cuesta' for plural items: '¿Cuánto cuesta los zapatos?'”

Correction: The verb must match the item's number: '¿Cuánto cuestan los zapatos?' (plural item = plural verb form).

vale

/BAH-leh//ˈbale/

VerbA2Informal
Use 'vale' to inquire about the price of something, similar to 'cuesta', but often heard in informal or conversational settings.
A hand pointing to a blank price tag on a jacket in a store.

Examples

¿Cuánto vale este sombrero?

How much does this hat cost?

Este billete de tren ya no vale.

This train ticket is no longer valid.

Tu amistad vale más que todo el oro del mundo.

Your friendship is worth more than all the gold in the world.

'Vale' is a Form of 'Valer'

Remember that when you ask '¿Cuánto vale?', you are using the 'él/ella/usted' form of the verb 'valer' (to be worth). This verb is irregular, especially the 'yo' form which is 'valgo'.

sale

/SAH-leh//ˈsa.le/

VerbB1General
Use 'sale' when asking about the final price, total cost, or the price of a specific component of a larger expense, like a ticket.
A close-up of a hand placing several shiny gold coins into another person's hand in exchange for a single red apple, representing the cost of an item.

Examples

¿En cuánto sale el boleto de avión a Madrid?

How much does the plane ticket to Madrid cost?

Arreglar el coche me salió carísimo.

Fixing the car cost me a fortune.

'Costar' vs. 'Salir'

Mistake: “Using 'salir' in very formal situations to mean 'to cost'.”

Correction: While common, 'salir' for price is more informal. Use 'costar' ('¿Cuánto cuesta?') in formal writing or speech for a more neutral tone.

Confusing 'cuesta' with 'sale'

Learners often use 'cuesta' for all price inquiries, but 'sale' is more specific. Use 'sale' when asking for the total or final price of something, especially for services or travel, rather than just the general price of an item.

Related Translations

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