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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many people across the country have been feeling the squeeze of the rising cost of living. — Maveah Griffith, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026 Perhaps that’s the real shift that the cost of living crisis is demanding from us. — Meehika Barua, Time, 6 July 2026 That limit will be adjusted for cost of living starting in 2027. — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 What else is going on Gas giants use AI to raise prices, a lawsuit says, another algorithmic hit to the cost of living. — Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cost of living

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cost of living was in 1796

Rhymes for cost of living

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Browse Nearby Words

costo-
cost of living
cost-of-living index
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Cite this Entry

“Cost of living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cost%20of%20living. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cost of living

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