cost of living


noun

the average cost of food, clothing, and other necessary or usual goods and services paid by a person, family, etc., or considered as a standard by the members of a group.

Origin of cost of living

First recorded in 1895–1900

OTHER WORDS FROM cost of living

cost-of-liv·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for cost of living

British Dictionary definitions for cost of living

cost of living

noun

  1. the basic cost of the food, clothing, shelter, and fuel necessary to maintain life, esp at a standard regarded as basic or minimal
  2. (as modifier)the cost-of-living index
the average expenditure of a person or family in a given period

Cultural definitions for cost of living

cost of living

The average cost of the basic necessities of life, including food, shelter, and clothing.

notes for cost of living

In the United States, the cost of living is monitored in the consumer price index (formerly called the cost-of-living index), published monthly by the federal government.