Charge vs Cost

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	Charge	Cost
Meaning	To request payment for something.	The amount of money needed to buy something.
CEFR level	B1	A1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Usage notes	Used in contexts related to billing or pricing services. Can be formal in business and informal when referring to casual payments between friends. Avoid in situations where a more specific term is appropriate.	Use 'cost' to describe the price of goods or services. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written language, but avoid using it in very formal contexts where more specific terms might be preferred.

Frequently asked questions: Charge vs Cost

What's the difference between "Charge" and "Cost"?

"Charge" means: To request payment for something. "Cost" means: The amount of money needed to buy something.

When should I use "Charge" and "Cost"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "Charge" and "Cost" the same CEFR level?

"Charge" is at B1, "Cost" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.