Cool MateCharge vs Cost vs Expense vs Fee vs Price
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
Expense
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Fee
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Price
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
| Charge | Cost | Expense | Fee | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃɑːrdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kɒst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɔːst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspens/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspens/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/fiː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fiː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪs/"]/ |
| Meaning | To request payment for something. | The amount of money needed to buy something. | Money that you spend on something. | An amount of money that you pay for a service. | The amount of money you need to pay for something. |
| Example | I need to charge my phone because the battery is low. | The cost of the new car is very high. | The expense of traveling abroad can add up quickly if you’re not careful. | She had to pay a fee to enroll in the course. | The price of the book is ten dollars. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A1 | B2 | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | 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 | considerable, enormous, great, go to, incur, involve, rise, at somebody’s/something’s expense, at… expense, at taxpayer expense, at taxpayers’ expense, at the taxpayer’s expense, big, considerable, major, high, low, allowable, incur, cover, defray, arise from something, arise out of something, increase, expense account, expenses claim, expense report, on expenses, all expenses paid, spare no expense, high, low, allowable, incur, cover, defray, arise from something, arise out of something, increase, expense account, expenses claim, expense report, on expenses, all expenses paid, spare no expense | exorbitant, fat, hefty, charge, impose, incur, be due, be payable, apply, income, revenue, payment, for a fee, fee for, fee on, exorbitant, fat, hefty, charge, impose, incur, be due, be payable, apply, income, revenue, payment, for a fee, fee for, fee on | exorbitant, high, inflated, command, fetch, go for, climb, double, go up, level, range, hike, at a/the price, in price, a drop in price, a fall in price, a reduction in price |
| Antonyms | credit, refund | free, no cost | income, profit | refund, credit | free, costlessness |
| 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. | Confused with 'expanse', which means a wide area., Using 'expenses' as a singular noun., Mispronouncing it as 'ex-pense' instead of 'ik-spens'. | Confused with 'charge' - 'fee' usually refers to fixed amounts for services., Using 'fees' incorrectly in a singular context - e.g., saying 'a fee' when referring to multiple charges. | Confused with 'prize' which is a reward for winning., Using 'price' as a verb when it should be a noun., Mixing up 'price' with 'value', which can have different meanings. |
| 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. | Use 'expense' in both personal and business contexts. It's appropriate when discussing costs, budgeting, or financial reports. Avoid using it in very casual conversations. | Use 'fee' in contexts related to payments for services like tuition, entry, or subscriptions. It’s not typically used for casual expenses like groceries. | Used in everyday conversations about buying and selling. Not typically used in very formal writing, which might prefer 'cost'. |
Frequently asked questions: Charge vs Cost vs Expense vs Fee vs Price
What's the difference between Charge, Cost, Expense, Fee, and Price?
Charge: To request payment for something. Cost: The amount of money needed to buy something. Expense: Money that you spend on something. Fee: An amount of money that you pay for a service. Price: The amount of money you need to pay for something.
Are Charge, Cost, Expense, Fee, and Price the same CEFR level?
Charge: B1, Cost: A1, Expense: B2, Fee: B2, Price: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Charge, Cost, Expense, Fee, and Price?
Charge: noun, Cost: noun, Expense: noun, Fee: noun, Price: 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. Expense: The expense of traveling abroad can add up quickly if you’re not careful. Fee: She had to pay a fee to enroll in the course. Price: The price of the book is ten dollars.
Can I use Charge, Cost, Expense, Fee, and Price interchangeably?
Not always. Charge, Cost, Expense, Fee, and Price 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.