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

Then there is California’s high wage scale, which is driven by not only unions bargaining for fair compensation but also the state’s high cost of living. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Several French cities were rocked by looting and arson at the weekend, alongside mass peaceful protests over the state of public services, the cost of living and discontent with political leadership. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Engineering student Panagiotis Moschonas, 20, criticized the conservative government for not taking any measures to help students cope with the high cost of living. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Yet polling also suggests that other issues, such as the increasing cost of living, are even more important to many voters. — Geoffrey Henderson, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cost of living

• unforgiving
• almsgiving
• caregiving
• forgiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• sieving

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