23 Ways to say “It’s expensive” in French

1. C’est cher

The simplest way to say something is expensive is “c’est cher” which directly translates to “it’s expensive”:

• Ce restaurant est cher. – This restaurant is expensive.
• Le loyer à Paris est cher. – Rent in Paris is expensive.

2. C’est (un peu) coûteux

“Coûteux” means costly or expensive:

• Cette voiture est coûteuse. – This car is expensive.
• Les fruits à l’épicerie sont un peu coûteux. – The fruits at the grocery store are a bit expensive.

3. C’est (un peu) dispendieux

Similar to “coûteux“, “dispendieux” also means costly:

• Ce bijou est dispendieux. – This jewelry is expensive.
• Ce n’est pas très dispendieux. – It’s not very expensive.

4. C’est (un peu) onéreux

“Onéreux” is another synonym for costly or expensive:

• Ces leçons de piano sont onéreuses. – These piano lessons are expensive.
• Ce n’est pas si onéreux. – It’s not that expensive.

5. C’est (un peu) salé

The slang phrase “c’est salé” translates to “it’s salty” but means something is expensive:

• Le loyer à New York, c’est salé ! – Rent in New York is crazy expensive!
• Attention, ce restaurant est salé. – Careful, this restaurant is pricey.

6. Ça coûte la peau des fesses

Literally meaning “it costs the skin of your butt“, this irreverent phrase implies something is very expensive or costs an arm and a leg.

• Ex: Cette voiture de sport coûte la peau des fesses. – That sports car costs a fortune.

7. Ça coûte un bras

“It costs an arm” – this expresses that something has a very high cost.

• Ex: Ces chaussures de designer coûtent un bras! – These designer shoes cost an arm!

8. Ça coûte les yeux de la tête

“It costs the eyes of your head” – this vivid phrase means something has a steep price.

• Ex: Le loyer à Paris coûte les yeux de la tête. – Rent in Paris costs an arm and a leg.

9. Ça coûte bonbon

Literally “it costs candy” – this playful phrase implies something is very dear or pricey.

• Ex: Ce restaurant gastronomique coûte bonbon. – This gourmet restaurant costs a pretty penny.

10. Ça coûte une blinde

This slang term meaning “it costs a bundle” indicates a very high price.

• Ex: Ces places pour le concert coûtent une blinde ! – These concert tickets cost a bundle!

11. Ça coûte la peau du cul

Literally “it costs the skin of your ass“, this vulgar phrase means something is exorbitantly expensive.

• Ex: Ce quartier coûte la peau du cul. – This neighborhood costs an arm and a leg.

12. Se faire saigner

“To get bled” – this implies being drained of money by high prices.

• Ex: Je me suis fait saigner par le garage pour réparer ma voiture. – I got bled by the garage to fix my car.

13. Se faire plumer

“To get plucked” – this refers to being fleeced or gouged by expensive prices.

• Ex: Attention de ne pas te faire plumer par ce vendeur de voitures d’occasion ! – Be careful not to get fleeced by that used car salesman!

14. Ça coûte un rein

Literally “it costs a kidney“, this means something has a steep or exorbitant price.

• Ex: Ces chaussures de luxe coûtent un rein ! – These luxury shoes cost an arm and a leg!

15. Ça coûte la peau des miches

“It costs the skin of your butt cheeks” – this vulgar phrase means something costs far too much money.

• Ex: Le loyer à Paris, ça coûte la peau des miches ! – Rent in Paris costs a fortune!

16. Se faire entuber

“To get ripped off” – this implies being scammed or swindled by an unfairly high price.

• Ex: Attention de ne pas te faire entuber par ce garagiste malhonnête. – Be careful not to get ripped off by this dishonest mechanic.

17. Ça coûte une fortune

Simply saying “it costs a fortune” expresses that something comes at a very high price.

• Ex: Ce restaurant gastronomique coûte une fortune. – This gourmet restaurant costs a fortune.

18. C’est exorbitant –  It’s exorbitant

Means that it is extremely or unreasonably expensive.

• Ex : Le prix de ces billets d’avion est tout simplement exorbitant ! – The price of these plane tickets is simply exorbitant!

19. C’est ruineux – It’s ruinous/bankrupting

Indicates that it is so expensive it could financially ruin someone.

• Ex : L’assurance maladie est ruineuse pour nombre de personnes. – Health insurance is bankrupting for many people.

20. C’est un luxe – It’s a luxury

Suggests that it is only accessible to the privileged, reserved for great luxury.

• Ex : Cette voiture de sport, c’est un luxe que je ne peux pas me permettre. -This sports car is a luxury I can’t afford.

21. C’est une folie – It’s crazy/madness

Means that the price is crazy or unreasonable.

• Ex : Payer 1000$ par nuit dans cet hôtel, c’est une folie ! – Paying 1000$ per night in this hotel is madness!

22. C’est du vol – It’s theft/robbery

Implies that the price is so exaggerated it amounts to robbery.

• Ex : Ces frais bancaires, c’est du vol ! – These bank fees are highway robbery!

23. C’est pas donné – It’s not free/given away

Indicates in a litotic manner that it is expensive, not cheap.

• Ex : Une maison à Paris, c’est pas donné ! – A house in Paris, it’s not free!