Is it rude to ask someone how much they paid for something?
My mate just got a new car and I'm curious what he spent on it, but I don't want to seem nosy or offensive. We're mates so I thought it might be okay, but now I'm second-guessing myself.
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It's generally considered a bit personal to ask straight up, but the context matters here.
Since you're mates, he might not mind at all - some people are pretty open about it, others get weird about money stuff. I'd say feel it out: if he's been bragging about the car or seems excited to talk about it, he'll probably be fine with the question.
If you're still unsure, you could ask something less direct like "did you get a good deal on it?" which gives him an opening to share the price if he wants to without putting him on the spot.
Don't lead with "how much did that cost?" straight off - it does come across as prying, even with mates. Instead, ask him what he thinks of it, get him talking about the features or the deal he got, and most people will naturally volunteer the price themselves when they're excited about something. If he doesn't mention it after a bit of chat, you'll have your answer that he'd rather keep it private.
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