Valer una pasta

Valer una pasta
 

I assume it means worth the time /or worth the money, but I'm not sure. This was taken from a Spanish newspaper, and I would like to know
if it is used internationally. Thanks.

The article which is about Italian food uses the term as a pun.

"Pasta" is cash in the slang of Spain. "Valer una pasta" evokes in me the image of a guy handling a sack with a dollar sign on it over the counter to pay for something really expensive. But it may have additional meanings I'm not aware of.

Vale una pasta = is very expensive

También se usa

Valer un pastón
Valer un riñón
Valer un huevo
Más caro que la mojama
Más caro que el bazuco

All with the same meaning.