Questions & Answers about Какая цена?
Why is the word for "what" какая here instead of что?
Что is used for "what" when it stands alone as a noun (like in "What is this?"). However, when "what" describes a specific noun (like "what price"), Russian uses forms of the adjective какой ("which/what"). Since цена (price) is a feminine noun, it takes the feminine form какая.
Where is the verb "is" in this sentence?
Russian almost always drops the verb "to be" (am/is/are) in the present tense. Instead of saying "What is the price?", you simply place the question word and the noun together to say "What price?".
How does this compare to asking Сколько стоит?
Both are very common and natural when shopping. Какая цена? literally asks "What is the price?", whereas Сколько стоит? asks "How much does it cost?". You can use them interchangeably depending on which you find easier to say.
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