German Phrase
Was kostet das für Kanada?
Meaning
Literally, 'What does that cost for Canada?' It is used when you want to know the price of something when it is intended for, or will be used in, Canada. The phrase can refer to shipping costs, taxes, or the price of a product in the Canadian market.
When to use
Use this sentence when discussing prices that differ by country – for example, when comparing the cost of a subscription, a shipping fee, or a product that has a different price tag in Canada versus your home country.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WaskostetdasfürKanada?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask 'what' or 'how much' in questions; it triggers verb‑first word order.
kosten (verb)
A regular verb meaning 'to cost'; in present tense third‑person singular it becomes 'kostet'.
das (demonstrative pronoun)
Refers to a previously mentioned object or service; here it stands for 'that'.
für (preposition)
Means 'for' and governs the accusative case; it indicates the target country in this context.
Kanada (proper noun)
The name of the country; always capitalized in German.
🗨In Conversation
Ich möchte das Buch bestellen. Was kostet das für Kanada?
I’d like to order the book. How much does that cost for Canada?
Der Preis inkl. Versand beträgt 25 Euro für Kanada.
The price including shipping is 25 euros for Canada.
✕Common Mistakes
Was kostet das in Kanada?
Using 'in' changes the meaning to 'in Canada' (location) rather than 'for Canada' (target market).
Wie viel kostet das für Kanada?
Missing the question word 'Was' makes the sentence sound incomplete; 'Wie viel kostet das für Kanada?' is also correct but less common in spoken German.
Was kostet das für kanada?
Never write the country name in lowercase; German nouns are always capitalized.
↔Alternatives
Wie viel kostet das in Kanada?
How much does that cost in Canada?
Was ist der Preis dafür in Kanada?
What is the price for it in Canada?
Wie hoch ist der Preis für Kanada?
What is the price for Canada?
Cultural Tip
German speakers often distinguish between the price of a product itself and the total cost that includes shipping, taxes, or customs duties. When you ask 'Was kostet das für Kanada?' you’re implicitly asking for the full amount a German customer would pay if the item were sent to Canada. In German business emails, it’s polite to specify whether you mean the net price, the gross price, or the price including shipping.