How do you say “Cost an arm and a leg” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is Costar un ojo de la cara, which literally means “To cost an eye from the face”. English speakers use cost an arm and a leg to mean to be extremely expensive. A familiar way to complain that something is very expensive, used in Spain and Latin America. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
Costar un ojo de la cara
/kosˈtaɾ un ˈoxo de la ˈkaɾa/
- Literal meaning
- “To cost an eye from the face”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
97 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
Both languages make a high price feel like giving up part of your body. Spanish takes an eye where English takes an arm and a leg.
The complaint is equally colourful and usually exaggerated. It can describe something you bought reluctantly or something you decided was far too expensive.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity3 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
Costar una fortuna
Literally: “To cost a fortune”
A direct choice that also works in less playful conversation.
Salir carísimo
Literally: “To turn out very expensive”
Everyday wording, especially when talking about the final cost.
Common translation traps
Costar un brazo y una pierna
The established Spanish body-part expression uses an eye, rather than the English arm and leg.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in Spanish.
In context
English
That repair cost me an arm and a leg.
Spanish
Esa reparación me costó un ojo de la cara.
English
A flat in that area costs an arm and a leg.
Spanish
Un apartamento en esa zona cuesta un ojo de la cara.
Related expressions
- What “Cost an arm and a leg” means in English
- Cut corners, To skimp on quality to save time or money.
Last updated 2026-09-13