cost of living

noun phrase

: the cost of purchasing those goods and services which are included in an accepted standard level of consumption

Examples of cost of living in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Multiple efforts by labor unions to strike in protest against the rapid rise in the cost of living amounted to nothing. Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026 In addition, California’s overall cost of living is the second highest in the nation (after Hawaii), and the state is in the top three most expensive for housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, and health care. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026 Now Democrats are trying to harness those same concerns, which have lingered as people across the country lose confidence in the Republican president's ability to ease the cost of living. CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026 Now Democrats are trying to harness those same concerns, which have lingered as people across the country lose confidence in the Republican president's ability to ease the cost of living. ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cost of living

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cost of living was in 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Cost of living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cost%20of%20living. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

Legal Definition

cost of living

cost of liv·​ing
: the cost of purchasing those goods and services which are included in an accepted standard level of consumption

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