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PhrasesPaying and ReceiptsQuanto costa?
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Quanto costa?

How much does it cost?

Pronunciation

'Costa' — COS-ta. Stress on the first syllable.

When to use it

The most essential shopping phrase in Italian. Use it for any item — food at a market, clothing in a boutique, a ticket at a museum. Short, universal, and universally understood.

What it means

'Quanto' = how much. 'Costa' = it costs (third-person singular of 'costare'). No subject pronoun needed — the context is clear. For multiple items: 'quanto costano?' (how much do they cost?).

Variations

Quanto viene?

How much is it?

'Venire' used colloquially for price — very natural in shops.

Qual è il prezzo?

What is the price?

More formal — asks for the price specifically.

Quanto costano tutti e due?

How much do both of them cost?

For two items together.

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Scusi, quanto costa questa borsa? Commessa: Centocinquanta euro. Cliente: E quella in vetrina? Commessa: Quella è duecento.

Customer: Excuse me, how much does this bag cost? Assistant: One hundred and fifty euros. Customer: And that one in the window? Assistant: That one is two hundred.

Cultural Note

In Italy, prices in shops are legally required to be displayed. However, at street markets ('mercati') and flea markets ('mercatini'), prices are often not shown — asking 'quanto costa?' is the start of a negotiation there.