Quick answer
Caro is the normal word for expensive. Custoso is more formal and can mean hard to carry out.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
caro
expensive or dear
Use caro for high price, or emotional value in formal greetings.
custoso
costly or laborious
Use custoso for something expensive, difficult, or requiring effort.
How to choose
- caro: Choose caro if the sentence points to high price, or emotional value in formal greetings.
- custoso: Choose custoso if the sentence points to something expensive, difficult, or requiring effort.
Examples
O ingresso esta caro.
The ticket is expensive.
Foi um processo custoso.
It was a costly process.
Common trap
For everyday prices, caro is usually the natural choice.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with caro, then once with custoso. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
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