Italian Phrase
Quanto costa l'affitto al mese?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the monthly price of renting a property. It specifically inquires about the cost per month, not the total amount for a longer period.
When to use
Use this question when you are looking at apartments, rooms, or houses and need to know the monthly rent. It works in both formal and informal settings, such as speaking with a landlord, a real‑estate agent, or a roommate.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quantocostal'affittoalmese?
Quanto
Interrogative adverb meaning 'how much', used to ask about quantity or price.
costa
Third‑person singular present of 'costare' (to cost); agrees with the subject 'l'affitto'.
l'affitto
Masculine singular noun 'rent' with elided definite article 'l'' before a vowel.
al
Contraction of preposition 'a' + definite article 'il', here meaning 'per' as in 'per month'.
mese
Masculine singular noun meaning 'month'.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto costa l'affitto al mese?
How much is the rent per month?
Costa 800 euro al mese, utenze incluse.
It's 800 euros per month, utilities included.
✕Common Mistakes
Quanto costa l'affitto per mese?
The idiomatic expression is 'al mese' (per month), not 'per mese'.
Quanto costa affitto al mese?
The definite article is required; you cannot drop it.
Quanto è costa l'affitto al mese?
When using 'quanto è', the verb changes; mixing the two forms is incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Quanto è l'affitto al mese?
How much is the rent per month?
Qual è il canone mensile?
What is the monthly fee?
Quanto devo pagare al mese per l'affitto?
How much do I have to pay per month for the rent?
Cultural Tip
In Italy rent is almost always quoted per month, and it’s common to specify whether utilities (utenze) are included. When asking, a polite opener such as 'Mi scusi' or 'Scusi' is appreciated. In some regions you may hear 'canone' instead of 'affitto', especially for student housing or corporate rentals.