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 The last several years have been difficult for a lot of folks; many were pushed to the absolute edge by the pandemic and the high cost of living. Joe Simitian, The Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2024 The current minimum wage in Arizona is $14.35 per hour, which has been steadily increasing since 2016 when voters approved a historic wage increase that also tied the minimum wage to the cost of living. Reia Li, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024 Most Americans, according to poll after poll, are worried about the cost of living. Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2024 Trump dominated on the issues of border security, the Middle East, and the cost of living. Keely Bastow, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cost of living 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cost of living.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near cost of living

Cite this Entry

“Cost of living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cost%20of%20living. Accessed 25 Oct. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on cost of living

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