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. 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

---

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

See Examples For:

cost of living

As the city has continued to grow, it has earned a reputation for its distinct brand of laid-back luxury, offering residents a bustling culture, mild weather, and a reasonably-priced cost of living.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

"The challenge of continuing to bring down borrowing must be paired with the pressing need for fresh cost of living support to help families facing a difficult winter ahead," the think tank said.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Voters in the district cited both the high cost of living and Van Orden’s voting record as reasons they supported Cooke in November.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026

Student rallies have been planned for Tuesday, ahead of wider public demonstrations against the rising cost of living that are expected on Saturday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

“We want you to organize a committee against the high cost of living ...” “The high cost of living?”

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---