How to Say “How Much Does It Cost?” in Portuguese

Introduction

Asking about prices is one of the most practical skills you’ll need when traveling to or living in Portuguese-speaking countries. Whether you’re shopping at a local market, dining at a restaurant, or negotiating a taxi fare, knowing how to ask quanto custa (how much does it cost) will serve you well in countless daily situations.

The Basic Question: Quanto Custa?

The most common way to ask how much something costs in Portuguese is quanto custa. This phrase is straightforward, widely understood, and appropriate in virtually any situation. The word quanto means how much, while custa comes from the verb custar, meaning to cost.

When you want to ask about a specific item, you simply add it after the phrase:

Quanto custa este livro?
How much does this book cost?

Quanto custa esse relógio?
How much does that watch cost?

Quanto custa aquela camisa?
How much does that shirt over there cost?

Notice the use of demonstratives like este (this), esse (that), and aquela (that over there). These words help specify exactly which item you’re interested in purchasing.

Alternative Ways to Ask About Price

Qual é o Preço?

Another common way to inquire about cost is qual é o preço, which literally means what is the price. This phrase is slightly more formal than quanto custa but equally acceptable in most contexts.

Qual é o preço deste apartamento?
What is the price of this apartment?

Qual é o preço do ingresso?
What is the price of the ticket?

Quanto É?

In informal situations, many Portuguese speakers simply ask quanto é, which is a shortened version meaning how much is it. This casual form is perfect for everyday transactions like buying street food, groceries, or small items.

Quanto é o café?
How much is the coffee?

Quanto é tudo?
How much is everything?

This last example is particularly useful when you’re ready to pay for multiple items at once.

Quanto Fica?

The phrase quanto fica is another informal alternative that translates roughly to how much does it come to. You’ll hear this frequently in restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Quanto fica com a taxa de serviço?
How much does it come to with the service charge?

Quanto fica no total?
How much is the total?

Asking About Multiple Items

When asking about the cost of multiple items, you need to adjust the verb form. Instead of custa (singular), you use custam (plural).

Quanto custam estas maçãs?
How much do these apples cost?

Quanto custam esses sapatos?
How much do these shoes cost?

Quanto custam três quilos de arroz?
How much do three kilos of rice cost?

This grammatical agreement is important for sounding natural and being clearly understood by native speakers.

Context-Specific Price Inquiries

At the Market or Grocery Store

Shopping at markets and supermarkets requires specific vocabulary. You might need to ask about prices per unit, per kilo, or per dozen.

Quanto custa o quilo de tomate?
How much does a kilo of tomatoes cost?

Quanto custam as bananas por dúzia?
How much do the bananas cost per dozen?

Quanto custa este queijo por grama?
How much does this cheese cost per gram?

Market vendors often display prices per kilo or per unit, but it never hurts to confirm before making your selection.

At Restaurants and Cafes

When dining out, you might want to ask about specific menu items or the total bill.

Quanto custa o prato do dia?
How much does the daily special cost?

Qual é o preço da feijoada completa?
What is the price of the complete feijoada?

Quanto fica a conta?
How much is the bill?

In Brazilian restaurants, service charges are often included, so you might hear staff say já está incluído (it’s already included).

For Services and Transportation

Asking about service costs requires the same basic structures, but the context helps clarify what you’re inquiring about.

Quanto custa a corrida até o aeroporto?
How much does the ride to the airport cost?

Qual é o preço do corte de cabelo?
What is the price of a haircut?

Quanto custam as aulas de português?
How much do Portuguese lessons cost?

Understanding Price Responses

Once you ask about the price, you need to understand the response. Vendors and service providers might answer in several ways.

The most straightforward response includes the verb custar or ser:

Custa vinte reais.
It costs twenty reais.

É quinze reais.
It’s fifteen reais.

São trinta e cinco reais.
It’s thirty-five reais.

Often, speakers will simply state the number without the verb:

Dez reais.
Ten reais.

Cinquenta e dois reais.
Fifty-two reais.

Negotiating and Discussing Prices

Expressing That Something Is Expensive

If you find a price too high, you can express this politely using caro (expensive) or muito caro (very expensive).

Está caro.
It’s expensive.

Está muito caro.
It’s very expensive.

Achei um pouco caro.
I found it a bit expensive.

Asking for Discounts

In markets and some shops, especially in tourist areas, negotiation is expected. Here are useful phrases for this:

Tem desconto?
Is there a discount?

Pode fazer um desconto?
Can you give a discount?

Qual é o melhor preço?
What’s the best price?

Se eu levar dois, tem desconto?
If I take two, is there a discount?

Asking If the Price Is Final

Sometimes you want to know if there’s any room for negotiation.

É o preço final?
Is that the final price?

Não tem como baixar um pouco?
There’s no way to lower it a bit?

Currency and Payment Methods

Discussing Currency

When asking about prices, it’s helpful to know currency-related vocabulary. The Brazilian currency is the real (plural: reais).

Aceita dólares?
Do you accept dollars?

Quanto custa em reais?
How much does it cost in reais?

Qual é a taxa de câmbio?
What’s the exchange rate?

Payment Methods

Modern transactions involve various payment methods. Here’s how to ask about them:

Aceita cartão de crédito?
Do you accept credit cards?

Posso pagar em dinheiro?
Can I pay in cash?

Tem a opção de pagar no Pix?
Is there an option to pay via Pix?

Pix is a popular instant payment system in Brazil that has revolutionized everyday transactions.

Asking About Additional Costs

Sometimes the listed price isn’t the final amount you’ll pay. Additional fees and charges are common.

Taxes and Fees

Está incluído o imposto?
Is tax included?

Tem taxa de entrega?
Is there a delivery fee?

Quanto custa o envio?
How much does shipping cost?

Qual é o valor da taxa de serviço?
What’s the amount of the service charge?

Installation or Setup Costs

When buying appliances or furniture, installation might cost extra.

A instalação está incluída no preço?
Is installation included in the price?

Quanto custa a montagem?
How much does assembly cost?

Price Comparisons

When shopping around, you’ll want to compare prices between different options.

Qual é mais barato?
Which one is cheaper?

Este é mais caro que aquele?
Is this one more expensive than that one?

Qual tem o melhor custo-benefício?
Which one has the best cost-benefit ratio?

Tem alguma opção mais em conta?
Is there a more affordable option?

Cultural Considerations When Discussing Prices

Politeness and Formality

Brazilian culture values warmth and friendliness in commercial interactions. While directness is acceptable, adding polite expressions enhances your communication.

Por favor, quanto custa este produto?
Please, how much does this product cost?

Com licença, qual é o preço desta bolsa?
Excuse me, what’s the price of this bag?

Starting your question with por favor (please) or com licença (excuse me) shows respect and creates a positive interaction.

Bargaining Culture

Bargaining is expected in markets, street fairs, and some tourist areas, but not in supermarkets or chain stores. The key is reading the situation. If prices aren’t clearly marked, there’s usually room for negotiation.

When bargaining, maintain a friendly tone and show genuine interest in the item. Aggressive haggling is frowned upon. If the vendor won’t budge on price, thank them politely and move on.

Regional Variations

While the phrases covered in this article work throughout Brazil, you might encounter regional expressions. For example, in some areas, people say quanto sai instead of quanto fica, but the meaning remains the same.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Verb Agreement Errors

Remember to match the verb with whether you’re asking about one item or multiple items. Using custa with a plural noun or custam with a singular noun sounds unnatural to native speakers.

Incorrect: Quanto custam este livro?
Correct: Quanto custa este livro?

Incorrect: Quanto custa esses sapatos?
Correct: Quanto custam esses sapatos?

Overusing Formal Language

While politeness is valued, being overly formal in casual settings can create distance. In a neighborhood bakery or street market, quanto é sounds more natural than lengthy formal constructions.

Forgetting Gender Agreement

Portuguese adjectives must agree with the gender of the noun. When saying something is expensive, use caro for masculine nouns and cara for feminine nouns.

O livro está caro. (masculine)
The book is expensive.

A camisa está cara. (feminine)
The shirt is expensive.

Expanding Your Price-Related Vocabulary

Useful Adjectives

Building your vocabulary around prices helps you express opinions and understand descriptions:

Barato / barata – cheap, inexpensive
Acessível – affordable, accessible
Em conta – reasonably priced
Promocional – on sale
Salgado / salgada – expensive (colloquial, literally salty)

Shopping and Transaction Terms

Desconto – discount
Promoção – promotion, sale
Oferta – offer, deal
Liquidação – clearance sale
Parcelamento – installment payment
À vista – cash payment, upfront payment
Troco – change (money returned)

Practical Conversation Examples

At a Clothing Store

Customer: Oi, bom dia. Quanto custa esta jaqueta?
Hi, good morning. How much does this jacket cost?

Seller: Essa jaqueta custa duzentos e noventa reais.
This jacket costs two hundred and ninety reais.

Customer: Achei um pouco cara. Tem desconto?
I found it a bit expensive. Is there a discount?

Seller: Posso fazer por duzentos e cinquenta reais.
I can do it for two hundred and fifty reais.

Customer: Fechado! Aceita cartão?
Deal! Do you accept cards?

At a Street Market

Customer: Quanto custam essas laranjas?
How much do these oranges cost?

Vendor: São cinco reais o quilo.
They’re five reais per kilo.

Customer: Vou levar dois quilos. Quanto fica?
I’ll take two kilos. How much is it?

Vendor: Dez reais.
Ten reais.

At a Restaurant

Customer: Com licença, qual é o preço do buffet?
Excuse me, what’s the price of the buffet?

Waiter: O buffet é quarenta e cinco reais por pessoa.
The buffet is forty-five reais per person.

Customer: Bebidas estão incluídas?
Are drinks included?

Waiter: Não, bebidas são à parte.
No, drinks are separate.

Advanced Price Discussions

Discussing Value and Quality

Sometimes price discussions involve evaluating whether something is worth the cost.

Vale a pena por esse preço?
Is it worth it for that price?

A qualidade justifica o preço?
Does the quality justify the price?

É um bom investimento?
Is it a good investment?

Long-term Costs

For services or subscriptions, you might need to ask about ongoing costs.

Quanto custa por mês?
How much does it cost per month?

Qual é o valor da mensalidade?
What’s the monthly payment amount?

Tem desconto no pagamento anual?
Is there a discount for annual payment?

Digital and Online Shopping

Online shopping requires its own set of price-related questions.

Quanto custa o frete?
How much does shipping cost?

Tem frete grátis?
Is there free shipping?

Em quantas vezes posso parcelar?
In how many installments can I pay?

Qual é o prazo de entrega?
What’s the delivery time?

Brazilian e-commerce often offers installment payments without interest, making expensive items more accessible.

Conclusion

Mastering how to ask about prices in Portuguese opens doors to authentic interactions and successful transactions. From the basic quanto custa to context-specific variations, these phrases form an essential part of practical language skills. Remember that language learning extends beyond memorizing phrases—it involves understanding cultural nuances, reading social situations, and communicating with warmth and respect. Practice these expressions in real contexts, and you’ll soon navigate Brazilian markets, stores, and services with confidence.