🇮🇹 Italian phrases

How Much Is It in Italian? Euros, Tax Refunds and Paying

Updated November 12, 2026 · 4 min read

Illustration of an Italian market stall with leather bags, scarves, fruit and a card payment terminal

The phrase you need is “Quanto costa?” (How much does it cost?). If you are paying, you can also say “Quanto le devo?” (How much do I owe you?). The harder part is understanding the answer, which will be numbers in euros.

  • How much does this cost?
    Quanto costa questo?
    KWAN-toh KOS-tah KWES-toh
    Say it while pointing. You can leave out "questo" if the item is obvious.
  • How much is it? (short)
    Quanto costa?
    KWAHN-toh KOH-stah
  • How much do I owe you?
    Quanto le devo?
    KWAHN-toh leh DEH-voh
    When you are ready to pay at a bar, shop or taxi.

Understanding the answer: euros and numbers

Prices are in euros and cents. “Dieci euro e cinquanta” is 10.50. The key numbers to know:

Number Say it
10 dieci
20 venti
30 trenta
50 cinquanta
100 cento
1,000 mille
2,000 duemila

Note that “mille” (1,000) becomes “duemila” and “tremila” for 2,000 and 3,000, with no space.

  • Ten
    Dieci
    dee-EH-chee
  • Hundred
    Cento
    CHEHN-toh
  • Thousand
    Mille
    MEEL-leh
  • Ten euros and fifty cents
    Dieci euro e cinquanta
    DYEH-chee EH-oo-roh eh cheen-KWAHN-tah

If you cannot follow the number, ask the cashier to show you on the screen or to write it down.

Tax, receipts and VAT refunds

  • Prices include IVA (VAT), so the price on the tag is what you pay.
  • Receipts. The shop must give you a receipt (scontrino) and you should keep it until you leave the shop.
  • VAT refund. Visitors from outside the EU can often claim back the VAT on larger purchases from shops with a “Tax Free” sign. Bring your passport, ask for the form before you pay, and check the minimum spend.
  • Is tax included?
    L’IVA è inclusa?
    LEE-vah eh een-KLOO-zah
  • Can I have the receipt, please?
    Mi dà lo scontrino, per favore?
    mee DAH loh skohn-TREE-noh pehr fah-VOH-reh
  • Do you offer tax-free shopping?
    Fate il tax free?
    FAH-teh eel tahks FREE
    Bring your passport. Not every shop takes part.
  • Can I get a receipt?
    Posso avere una ricevuta?
    POS-soh ah-VEH-reh OO-nah ree-cheh-VOO-tah
    A more formal receipt, if you need one for expenses.

Paying: cash or card

Cards are widely accepted, and contactless is common. Small shops, market stalls and some bars may prefer cash, so keep some euros. ATMs are called bancomat.

  • Can I pay by card?
    Posso pagare con la carta?
    POS-soh pah-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tah
    Ask before you order in a small place.
  • Where is the nearest ATM?
    Dov'è il bancomat più vicino?
    doh-VEH eel BAN-koh-maht pew vee-CHEE-noh
    Bancomat is the usual word for a cash machine.
  • Do you have a discount?
    Avete uno sconto?
    ah-VEH-teh OO-noh SKOHN-toh
    Ask about sales or a loyalty card. Do not haggle in shops.
  • Can you give me a discount?
    Mi fa uno sconto?
    mee fah OO-noh SKOHN-toh
    At street markets only, and politely.

Other places you will ask “how much?”

  • How much is a ticket to...?
    Quanto costa un biglietto per...?
    KWAN-toh KOS-tah oon bee-LYET-toh per
    Say the destination in place of the dots.
  • How much is the entrance fee?
    Quanto costa il biglietto d'ingresso?
    KWAN-toh KOS-tah eel bee-LYET-toh deen-GREHS-soh
    At a museum, church or monument.
  • How much is the buffet?
    Quanto costa il buffet?
    KWAHN-toh KAWS-tah eel boof-FEH
  • Is the cover charge included?
    Il coperto è incluso?
    eel koh-PEHR-toh eh een-KLOO-zoh
    At a restaurant.

A short scene: at the shop counter

  1. Shop assistantBuongiorno! Posso aiutarla?bwohn-JOR-noh POHS-soh ah-yoo-TAR-lahGood morning! Can I help you?
  2. YouBuongiorno. Quanto costa questa borsa?bwohn-JOR-noh KWAHN-toh KOH-stah KWEH-stah BOR-sahGood morning. How much is this bag?
  3. Shop assistantQuarantacinque euro.kwah-rahn-tah-CHEEN-kweh EH-oo-rohForty-five euros.
  4. YouPosso pagare con la carta?POHS-soh pah-GAH-reh kohn lah KAR-tahCan I pay by card?
  5. Shop assistantCerto. Ecco lo scontrino.CHEHR-toh EHK-koh loh skohn-TREE-nohOf course. Here is the receipt.
  6. YouGrazie. Arrivederci!GRAH-tsyeh ahr-ree-veh-DEHR-cheeThank you. Goodbye!

Common mistakes

  1. Trying to haggle in a shop. Prices are fixed. Save it for a market, and be polite.
  2. Not greeting the shop assistant. Say “Buongiorno” when you enter.
  3. Walking out without the receipt. It is expected that you take it.
  4. Assuming a card will work in a small shop or market stall. Carry some cash.
  5. Forgetting to ask about the tax-free form before you pay.

For the rest of the phrases you will need on a trip, see our Italian phrases for travel and how to order food in Italian.

Questions travelers ask

Can I bargain in Italy?

Not in shops. Prices in shops and department stores are fixed. At street markets, a polite request such as "Mi fa uno sconto?" (Can you give me a discount?) sometimes works, especially if you buy several items, but do not push.

Do prices in Italy include tax?

Yes. Prices shown to consumers include IVA, the Italian VAT. There is no extra tax added at the register. Visitors from outside the EU can often claim a VAT refund on larger purchases from shops that offer tax-free shopping.

Do I need to keep the receipt?

Yes. In Italy the shop must give you a receipt (scontrino), and you are expected to take it with you when you leave. It also helps if you need to return something or claim a VAT refund.

When are the sales in Italy?

The main sales (saldi) are in winter, starting in early January, and in summer, starting in early July. Exact dates are set by each region, so check locally.

More guides

Illustration of an outdoor Italian trattoria table with pasta, red wine, espresso and bread🇮🇹 ItalianHow to Order Food in Italian: Coperto, Courses and Coffee RulesHow to order food in Italian, with audio and pronunciation, plus coperto, courses, coffee and the bill in a trattoria, a bar and a pizzeria.November 12, 2026 · 5 min readIllustration of two friends greeting each other with a kiss on the cheek in a sunny Italian piazza🇮🇹 ItalianHow to Say Hello in Italian: Buongiorno, Ciao and Tu or LeiHow to say hello in Italian, with audio and pronunciation: ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, goodbye, thank you, introductions and the tu and Lei difference.November 12, 2026 · 4 min readIllustration of a traveller at an Italian pharmacy counter with a green cross sign and a friendly pharmacist🇮🇹 ItalianItalian Emergency Phrases: Calling 112, Theft and PharmaciesItalian emergency phrases with audio: how to call the police and an ambulance, report a theft or a lost passport, find a doctor or pharmacy and ask for help.November 12, 2026 · 5 min read