cost of living — the amount of money needed to sustain a certain level of living, including basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the amount of money needed to sustain a certain level of living, including basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare
Pronunciation (IPA): /kɔːst əv ˈlɪvɪŋ/
Example Sentences
- My salary can't keep up with the rising cost of living - I might have to survive on ramen noodles and dreams.
- The cost of living varies significantly between rural and urban areas.
- She moved to the countryside where the cost of living was lower, but discovered that Wi-Fi was considered a luxury item.
cost of living
NOUN[/kɔːst əv ˈlɪvɪŋ/]
the amount of money needed to sustain a certain level of living, including basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare
Rising prices push the cost of living higher every single month at the grocery store.
Dreams lost to the rising cost of living.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This compound term emerged in the 14th century, combining the French word 'cost' (from Old French 'coste', meaning expense or price) with the Old English 'living' (from 'lifian', meaning to sustain life or livelihood). The concept gained prominence during industrialization and urbanization, when economists needed terminology to describe the aggregate expenses required for daily subsistence in urban centers.
Breakdown
cost (French 'coste', from Latin 'costa' meaning outlay or expense) + of (Old English preposition indicating possession or relation) + living (Old English 'living', the gerund form of 'lifian', meaning the state of sustaining one's existence or livelihood).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My salary can't keep up with the rising cost of living - I might have to survive on ramen noodles and dreams.”
“The cost of living varies significantly between rural and urban areas.”
“She moved to the countryside where the cost of living was lower, but discovered that Wi-Fi was considered a luxury item.”
“Companies often provide cost of living adjustments for employees relocating to expensive cities.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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