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 And while the cost of living here is a little higher than the nation's average, the median home value is lower—$302,958. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2024 Total monthly cost of living for retirees in Waukesha is $3,379 per month with the average rent cost being $1,365, according to GOBankingRates.com. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024 The cost of living crisis exacerbated these trends, Griffiths pointed out, creating a perfect storm for Europe’s automakers. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024 That, coupled a cost of living crunch and concerns over immigration, has helped diminish public support for the two traditional parties that have dominated Irish politics over the last century. Rob Picheta, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024 Metrics included the cost of living index score, average retirement income among adults 65+, tax-friendliness for retirees, and average Medicare spending on personal health care. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2024 Meanwhile, the cost of living for an individual renting an average one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte sits at around $61,000 per year. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024 While inflation recently has ebbed, wages were outpaced by the high cost of living for a couple years. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024 Per a new report Higher Heights, an organization dedicated to advancing Black women’s political power, Black women voters are focused on addressing housing, inflation and the cost of living this election cycle. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024

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 27 Apr. 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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