Cool MateCharge vs Cost
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Charge
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Cost
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
| Charge | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃɑːrdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kɒst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɔːst/"]/ |
| Meaning | To request payment for something. | The amount of money needed to buy something. |
| Example | I need to charge my phone because the battery is low. | The cost of the new car is very high. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | heavy, high, nominal, impose, introduce, levy, at a charge, for a charge, charge for, free of charge, overall, personal, sole, have, take, place somebody in, in charge (of somebody/something), in somebody’s charge, under somebody’s charge, grave, heavy, serious, bring, file, lay, allege something, sheet, on a/the charge, without charge, charge against, bring charges (against somebody), prefer charges (against somebody), press charges (against somebody), grave, heavy, serious, bring, file, lay, allege something, sheet, on a/the charge, without charge, charge against, bring charges (against somebody), prefer charges (against somebody), press charges (against somebody), baton, cavalry, lead | considerable, high, enormous, carry, have, bear, escalate, go up, increase, reduction, savings, increase, at a cost of, cost to, an increase in cost, a reduction in cost, at great cost, considerable, enormous, great, incur, pay, increase, be associated, be involved, escalate, considerable, enormous, great, outweigh, suffer, count, at cost (to), at a cost (to), at the cost of, costs and benefits, at all costs, at any cost, court, legal, administrative, incur, pay, be awarded |
| Antonyms | credit, refund | free, no cost |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'charges' when referring to multiple items., Using 'charge' as a noun incorrectly in casual conversations instead of using 'billing'., Mistaking 'charge' for 'change' in payment contexts. | Using 'cost' in past tense improperly, like 'costed'., Confusing 'cost' with 'price' in terms of usage., Omitting the amount, e.g., saying 'This costs...' without stating the price. |
| 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Charge vs Cost
What's the difference between Charge and Cost?
Charge: To request payment for something. Cost: The amount of money needed to buy something.
Which is more advanced: Charge and Cost?
Charge is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Charge and Cost the same CEFR level?
Charge: B1, Cost: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Charge and Cost?
Charge: noun, Cost: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Charge: I need to charge my phone because the battery is low. Cost: The cost of the new car is very high.
Can I use Charge and Cost interchangeably?
Not always. Charge and Cost are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.