Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Cost in Spanish
Costo · noun · KOHS-toh
The Spanish word for cost is 'costo' in Latin America and 'coste' in Spain. Both are masculine nouns referring to the amount of money needed to buy or produce something. The verb 'costar' (to cost) is stem-changing — '¿Cuánto cuesta?' (How much does it cost?) is one of the most useful phrases for travelers.
Costo is pronounced KOHS-toh. Coste is pronounced KOHS-teh. Both are two-syllable words with stress on the first syllable.
El costo del proyecto fue mayor de lo que esperábamos.
The cost of the project was higher than we expected.
cost in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cost, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| costo | cost | KOHS-toh | Default, widely understood |
| coste | cost | Spain | |
| precio | cost | price, closely related but more specific | |
| costar | cost | verb form, to cost |
How Native Speakers Use Costo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Shopping
¿Cuánto cuesta esta camisa?
How much does this shirt cost?
The essential shopping question using the verb costar.
Business expense
Los costos de producción aumentaron un diez por ciento.
Production costs increased by ten percent.
Plural form used in business discussions.
Personal decision
El costo de vivir en la ciudad es muy alto.
The cost of living in the city is very high.
Discussing cost of living.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Costo
Confusing costo and precio
Incorrect: ¿Cuál es el costo de este artículo? (at a store)
Correct: ¿Cuál es el precio de este artículo?
While both relate to money, 'precio' is the price you pay as a consumer, while 'costo' refers to the cost of producing or acquiring something. In stores, ask for the 'precio.'
Verb conjugation error
Incorrect: ¿Cuánto costa el boleto?
Correct: ¿Cuánto cuesta el boleto?
Costar is a stem-changing verb (o→ue). The correct conjugation is 'cuesta,' not 'costa.'
Lock in cost Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Costo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using costo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El costo del proyecto fue mayor de lo que esperábamos. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About cost in Spanish
- What is the difference between costo and precio?
- Costo refers to the expense incurred to produce or obtain something (cost of production, cost of living), while precio is the specific amount charged to a buyer — they overlap but operate at different points in a transaction.
- How do you conjugate costar?
- Costar is an o→ue stem-changing verb: cuesta (it costs), cuestan (they cost), costó (it cost, past tense) — the stem change only occurs when the 'o' is stressed.
- Do Spaniards say costo or coste?
- In Spain, 'coste' is the standard form — 'el coste de vida' (the cost of living) — while Latin Americans use 'costo,' though both are understood everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world.