standard of living

American  

noun

1. a grade or level of subsistence and comfort in everyday life enjoyed by a community, class, or individual.

   The well-educated generally have a high standard of living.

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standard of living British  

noun

1. a level of subsistence or material welfare of a community, class, or person

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standard of living Cultural  

1. A term describing the amount of goods and services that an average family or individual views as necessary.

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Etymology

Origin of standard of living

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

According to a report from the charity Scope, for the year 2024-5, disabled households need on average an additional £1,095 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Consequently, the average American household is now paying more to sustain their standard of living.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

“The social standard of living is very low, while military pay is very high. The logic is simple.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

That helped workers achieve the largest rise in their standard of living in U.S. history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025

Most say their standard of living is better than their parents’ and imagine that their children will do better still.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times