Cuando cuesta?

Pretty simple question I think.

When I ask for the price of a bottle of water I say "Cuando?" or "Cuando cuesta?" which works fine in a store setting.

But I'm looking for a smoother way to ask a working girl for the price of her services as an opener for negotiation.

So far I've been suggested, by a working girl, just saying "servicio?" or "el valor del/de su servicio?" which I understood to be very formal. It might be better than treating the girl as a pack of gum in a store, but it's still seems like a pretty uptight way of broaching the subject of money.

So, how do I ask about prices without actually saying stuff that belongs in a supermercado or some formal negotiation routine?

 

Well, you can said something like how much is the donation?, translating: "cuanto es la donation? "

 

Actually, it is "cuanto?", in spanish, with "t". Anyway, regarding your question, a good way to ask for the price (in fact, for everything) is "como es?" (how is it?). So, with that phrase, you don't just ask for the price, but also for the thorough service: time, place, scope of the sexual intercourse (if anal sex is included, for example), way to pay, etc. Evidently, I recommend using it kindly, like this: "hola, que tal?, ... como es, ah?" (hi, how are you? ... how is it, eh?).

 

Thanks guys, awesome replies as usual!

PhD,

Is "como es" applicable in other situations as well? Can I, for instance, walk into a gym an say: "Hola que tal? Como es?", and expect the receptionist to tell me all about the different plans and prices they have or will I get a slap in the face because "como es?" implies that we're talking about sexual favors?

Jack Jericho,

That sounds like a pretty good solution. There's really no ambiguity to it and it doesn't sound like I'm asking a butcher for the price of his prime Peruvian meat. I'm gonna try this the next time, and maybe expand my repertoire with "como es?" once I understand what exactly that phrase implies.

 

It's a common phrase, used not 0nly in a sexual context. The gym case is a good example.