Italian Phrase
Quanto costa questo?
Meaning
Literally “How much does this cost?” – a direct way to ask the price of an item you can see or are holding. It’s polite, neutral and works in shops, markets, cafés, or any situation where you need a price.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re looking at a product, a menu item, a souvenir, or any object whose price isn’t displayed. It’s appropriate for both formal settings (a boutique) and informal ones (a street market).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quantocostaquesto?
Quanto (interrogative adverb)
Used to ask about price or quantity; it does not change with gender or number.
costa (verb costare)
Third‑person singular present of costare ‘to cost’; the subject is implied by the demonstrative that follows.
questo (demonstrative pronoun)
Points to a specific item that is near the speaker; it agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaces.
Word order
In Italian questions the normal statement order is kept; no inversion is required.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto costa questo?
How much does this cost?
Costa dieci euro.
It costs ten euros.
✕Common Mistakes
Che costa questo?
‘Che’ is a relative pronoun, not an interrogative adverb. Use ‘Quanto’ to ask about price.
Quanto è questo?
‘Quanto è’ usually asks about size or amount, not price. Use ‘Quanto costa’ for cost.
Costo questo?
Missing the interrogative ‘Quanto’; the sentence becomes a statement meaning ‘I cost this’.
↔Alternatives
Quanto viene questo?
How much does this come to?
Quanto è questo?
How much is this?
Qual è il prezzo di questo?
What is the price of this?
Mi può dire il prezzo di questo?
Can you tell me the price of this?
Cultural Tip
In Italy it’s common to say “Scusi” or “Per favore” before the question, especially in more formal shops: “Scusi, quanto costa questo?”. In open‑air markets you can also add a friendly smile and a brief thank‑you after the answer – “Grazie!”. Remember that bargaining is accepted in street markets and flea markets, but not in most retail stores.