The Subjunctive Mood of Costar is used to express wishes, emotions, doubts or uncertainties about the cost of something, for example: Espero que no te cueste mucho dinero. (I hope it doesn’t cost you a lot of money.)

This is an o to ue stem-changing verb, meaning the ‘o’ in the stem changes to ‘ue’ in some conjugations. This pattern is common among Spanish verbs.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Costar (to cost) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

Costar generally means “to cost” or “to be difficult”, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

To cost (money): for example, Que no te cueste mucho dinero comprar esa casa. (May it not cost you a lot of money to buy that house.)

To be difficult: for example, Que no te cueste mucho esfuerzo aprobar ese examen. (May it not be very difficult for you to pass that exam.)

To have a hard time (doing something): for example, Que no te cueste levantarte temprano. (May you not have a hard time waking up early.)

To be reluctant (to do something): for example, Que no te cueste pedir ayuda cuando la necesites. (May you not be reluctant to ask for help when you need it.)

To be a hassle: for example, Que no te cueste mucho ir al supermercado. (May it not be a hassle for you to go to the supermarket.)

To be worth the effort (colloquial): for example, ¡Que te cueste lo que te cueste, tienes que aprobar ese examen! (No matter how much effort it takes, you have to pass that exam!)

Examples

Examples of Costar in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que el viaje no cueste demasiado. (It’s important that the trip doesn’t cost too much.)

Ojalá que la reparación del auto no cueste una fortuna. (Hopefully the car repair doesn’t cost a fortune.)

Preferiría que las entradas para el concierto no cuesten más de $50. (I’d prefer that the concert tickets don’t cost more than $50.)

Mamá quiere que las verduras cuesten menos para poder comprar más. (Mom wants vegetables to cost less so she can buy more.)

Es necesario que los libros de texto no cuesten tanto para los estudiantes. (It’s necessary that textbooks don’t cost so much for students.)

El jefe espera que las renovaciones de la oficina no cuesten más del presupuesto. (The boss hopes the office renovations don’t cost more than the budget.)

Aunque cueste trabajo, es importante que aprendamos un nuevo idioma. (Even if it costs effort, it’s important that we learn a new language.)

Para que el negocio prospere, es esencial que los productos no cuesten más que los de la competencia. (For the business to thrive, it’s essential that the products don’t cost more than the competition’s.)

Mis padres insisten en que las reparaciones de la casa no cuesten demasiado. (My parents insist that the house repairs don’t cost too much.)

Independientemente de lo que cueste, es crucial que terminemos el proyecto a tiempo. (Regardless of what it costs, it’s crucial that we finish the project on time.)

Aunque cueste un esfuerzo extra, es importante que mantengamos un estilo de vida saludable. (Even if it costs extra effort, it’s important that we maintain a healthy lifestyle.)

Para que los niños tengan un futuro mejor, es fundamental que su educación no cueste tanto. (For children to have a better future, it’s essential that their education doesn’t cost so much.)

No importa lo que cueste, es necesario que encontremos una solución al problema. (No matter what it costs, it’s necessary that we find a solution to the problem.)

Mis amigos esperan que las vacaciones no cuesten demasiado para poder ir todos juntos. (My friends hope that the vacation doesn’t cost too much so we can all go together.)

Aunque cueste sacrificios, es importante que sigamos nuestros sueños. (Even if it costs sacrifices, it’s important that we follow our dreams.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Costar (to cost) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Subjunctive mood is also known as the Simple Subjunctive, Subjunctive Present, or Present Subjunctive Mood in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Presente del Modo Subjuntivo, or Tiempo Presente del Subjuntivo in Spanish.