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Want to know how to talk about prices in Spanish? 

Do you dream of shopping for the latest fashions on your big trip to Barcelona? Would you like to check out the largest outdoor market in the world, Otavalo Market in Ecuador? Whatever your dream destination, read on to find out what you need to know about talking about money and prices in Spanish.

Asking for the price

In Spanish, you can ask for the price of anything with these two phrases:

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta?
  • ¿Cuánto cuestan?

‍¿Cuánto cuesta? 

This is how you ask for the price of a single item, like a coat.

¿Cuánto cuestan?

This is how you ask for the price of items that come in groups, like bananas.

Here’s what a conversation might look like:

You: ¿Cuánto cuesta el collar? - How much does the necklace cost?

Shopkeeper: Cuesta veinte cincuenta . - It’s 20 pesos and 50 cents.

Talking about money

Spanish speakers often don’t include the words for the currency when they give prices. Instead, there are just two sets of numbers. The first set represents the pesos amount while the second set represents the cents. 

For instance, you’ll typically hear El total es diez cincuenta (The total comes to ten fifty) instead of El total es diez pesos y cincuenta centavos (The total comes to ten pesos and fifty cents).

Counting by tens

Need a refresher on the numbers? Here’s how to get to 100 in Spanish counting by 10s:

  • Diez - 10
  • Veinte - 20
  • Treinta - 30
  • Cuarenta - 40
  • Cincuenta - 50
  • Sesenta - 60 
  • Setenta - 70
  • Ochenta - 80
  • Noventa - 90
  • Cien - 100
Banner image with an extra tip: Did you know? In English, the decimal point is usually used to separate dollars and cents, with a period (.) or a comma (.). but, in Spanish-speaking countries, a comma is used to separate the dollars and cents, and a period is used to indicate thousands. For example, the amount $1,250.75 would be written as 1.250,75€ in Spain/1.250,75 pesos in Mexico. It can be confusing for English speakers at first, but it is important when dealing with monetary amounts in Spanish.

Ready for more? Here are a few more phrases that might come in handy while you’re shopping:

  • El total es $25.00. - Your total is $25.00.
  • Están en oferta. Son $12.99. -  These are on sale. They’re $12.99.

Practice makes perfect!

If you’re learning Spanish, interacting with other people is the best way to practice. There’s no better way to get skilled at talking about shopping in Spanish than to actually practice with real people.

So before you head off on your dream vacation, … 

Come practice with us in Immerse!

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