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
High monthly car payments are putting tremendous stress on household budgets already struggling to deal with a higher cost of living.
—
Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
At the same time, many North Texans who are already here are facing increasing economic challenges, driven largely by the area’s rising cost of living.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Yet the high cost of living, especially housing, continues to weigh heavily on voters, and has dragged down the president’s approval ratings.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
For months, critics warned the plan would drastically limit visits by the many San Diegans who struggle with the cost of living.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cost of living
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
At the same time, many North Texans who are already here are facing increasing economic challenges, driven largely by the area’s rising cost of living.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Yet the high cost of living, especially housing, continues to weigh heavily on voters, and has dragged down the president’s approval ratings.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
For months, critics warned the plan would drastically limit visits by the many San Diegans who struggle with the cost of living.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
