Survival guide: Shopping in Latin America

Lessons

Hello everyone! If you are planning a trip to Mexico, Honduras, Peru, or any Spanish-speaking country, there is one phrase you must master before you land: “¿Cuánto cuesta?” (How much does it cost?).

Shopping in Latin America is a vibrant, sensory experience. Unlike the large supermarkets in Canada or the US, in local markets (often called el mercado or el almacén) you are constantly interacting with vendors. You aren’t just buying food or clothes; you are practicing the language in real-time.

Currency and Measurements

Depending on where you are, prices will change not just in number, but in currency. In these exercises, we will practice with:

  • Lempiras (Honduras)
  • Soles (Peru)
  • Pesos (Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina)

It is also important to note that in open-air markets, we often buy by the libra (pound) or by the docena (dozen)—especially for things like tortillas or eggs.

Quick Vocab

  • Produce: Ajos (garlic), papas (potatoes), chiles (peppers).
  • Currencies: Pesos, Soles, Lempiras.
  • Quantities: Libra (pound), Docena (dozen).

Ready to Practice?

Imagine you are walking through a colorful market, surrounded by the smell of fresh coffee and warm tortillas. Here are a few examples:

Practice 1: At the Market

¿Cuánto cuestan los chiles? (How much are the peppers? …they cost 25 Lempiras per pound)

¿Cuánto cuestan las papas? (How much are the potatoes? …they cost 4 Lempiras per pound)

Vocabulary

Clothing (Ropa): falda (skirt), blusa (blouse), camisa (shirt), cartera (purse), pantalones (pants), vestido (dress), zapatos (shoes).

Practice 2: At the clothing store

  1. ¿Cuánto cuesta esta falda? (How much is this skirt? …it costs 20 Lempiras)
  2. ¿Cuánto cuesta la blusa? (How much is the blouse? …it costs 35 Soles)

Answer Key

Practice 1:

  1. Cuestan veinticinco lempiras por libra.
  2. Cuestan cuatro lempiras por libra.

Practice 2:

  1. La falda cuesta veinte lempiras.
  2. La blusa cuesta treinta y cinco soles.

Click below for more practice:

  • [Worksheet: ¿Cuánto cuesta?]
  • [Video: How to Shop in Spanish]

¿Cúanto cuesta? 

  • ¿Cúanto cuestan los chiles? (how much are the peppers?…..they cost 25 Lempiras per pound)
    ___________________________________
  • ¿Cúanto cuestan las papas?(How much are the potatoes? they cost 4 Lempiras per pound)
    ____________________________________

Ropa (clothing): falda (skirt), blusa (blouse), camisa (shirt), cartera (purse), pantalones (pants), el vestido (the dress), zapatos (shoes).

Practica 2:

  1. ¿Cúanto cuesta esta falda?  (how much is this skirt?….it costs 20 Lempiras)
    La ________cuesta ____________    _________
  2. ¿Cúanto cuesta la blusa?  (how much is the blouse? it costs 35 soles)
    ___________________________________________

Ready to practice? Click on the worksheets to practice these shopping skills.

Worksheet
Worksheet (2022) ¿Cuánto cuesta?
Worksheet (2026) ¿Cuánto cuesta?
Video on ¿Cuánto cuesta?