él cueste

is difficult for, takes (effort), costs

→ costar
cuest cost + e formal singular command (usted)
verb · 3rd-person singular Rare #29,542
is difficult for, takes (effort) Often used with an indirect object, as in me cueste (“it’s difficult for me”).
SP: Aunque me cueste, voy a decir la verdad.
EN: Even if it’s difficult for me, I’m going to tell the truth.
costs
SP: No creo que cueste mucho.
EN: I don’t think it costs much.
Conjugation of costar
Imperative
SingularPlural
Second cuesta —
Third cueste —

¡No podemos permitirle ir más lejos, sin importar lo que cueste!

We can't let him go any further, no matter what it takes!

— Akira (1988)

Sea valiente y diga la verdad aunque cueste mucho hacerlo.

Be brave and tell the truth even if it's very difficult to do so.

Por mucho que le hagan no hablará, aunque le cueste la vida.

No matter what they do to him, he will not talk, even if it costs him his life.

— Por un puñado de dólares (1964)

Sin importar lo que cueste.

Regardless of the cost.

— Terror en Silent Hill: Regreso al infierno (2026)

Por más que me cueste admitirlo, estaba preocupado.

As much as I hate to admit it, I was worried.

Ojalá que cada gota de su sangre le cueste también al enemigo.

May every drop of their blood come at a cost to the enemy as well.

— Detrás del sol (2001)

Estaba inquieto, aunque me cueste reconocerlo.

I was restless, although I find it hard to admit.

No importa lo que cueste o lo que necesites.

It doesn't matter what it costs or what you need.

— El laberinto del fauno (2006)

No saben qué difícil es que no te cueste.

They don't know how difficult it is to make it not cost you anything.

— Por eso lo llaman amor (2017)

Que no cueste más de cien, por ahora, después ya veremos.

Let it not cost more than one hundred, for now, we'll see later.

— Брат (1997)

Y aunque ahora te cueste asimilar lo que ves, estás hecha para mí.

And even if it’s hard for you to take in what you see right now, you were made for me.

— Ofrenda a la tormenta (2020)

No creo que cueste tan caro limpiar el coche.

I don't think it costs that much to clean the car.