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

Voters told pollsters that the issues most crucial to them were government corruption and the cost of living. — Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026

The trend was improving in September and October, but sales have been impacted by a series of mass demonstrations across France against the high cost of living. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026

Colom campaigned on raising wages, protecting rural hospitals and addressing the cost of living. — ABC News, 12 Nov. 2026

The war is also viewed as having a major impact on the Republican Party's performance in the midterm elections, in part because of its impact on gas prices and the wider cost of living. — Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Nov. 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