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Synonyms

cost of living

American  

noun

  1. the average cost of food, clothing, and other necessary or usual goods and services paid by a person, family, etc., or considered as a standard by the members of a group.

cost of living British  

noun

    1. the basic cost of the food, clothing, shelter, and fuel necessary to maintain life, esp at a standard regarded as basic or minimal

    2. ( as modifier )

      the cost-of-living index

  2. the average expenditure of a person or family in a given period

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
cost of living Cultural  

  1. The average cost of the basic necessities of life, including food, shelter, and clothing.

Discover More

In the United States, the cost of living is monitored in the consumer price index (formerly called the cost-of-living index), published monthly by the federal government.

Other Word Forms

  • cost-of-living adjective

Etymology

Origin of cost of living

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The patrollers, responsible for safety on one of the nation’s steepest ski mountains, demanded more pay, arguing that Telluride’s high cost of living forced many to work multiple jobs and make long commutes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mass demonstrations, initially triggered by concerns over the cost of living, started building in late December and posted the greatest threat ever to the Islamic republic.

From Barron's

We live in a state with a low cost of living, but very high taxes.

From MarketWatch

Mamdani won office after a campaign focused on the high cost of living in New York City.

From The Wall Street Journal

Evidence is mounting that the draw of expatriate life extends beyond the cost of living.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.