Cool MateCost vs Expense
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cost
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Expense
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Cost
| Cost | Expense | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kɒst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɔːst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspens/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspens/"]/ |
| Meaning | The amount of money needed to buy something. | Money that you spend on something. |
| Example | The cost of the new car is very high. | The expense of traveling abroad can add up quickly if you’re not careful. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | 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 |
| Antonyms | free, no cost | income, profit |
| Common mistakes | 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'. |
| Usage notes | 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. |
Frequently asked questions: Cost vs Expense
What's the difference between Cost and Expense?
Cost: The amount of money needed to buy something. Expense: Money that you spend on something.
Which is more common: Cost and Expense?
Cost is the most common in everyday English.
Are Cost and Expense the same CEFR level?
Cost: A1, Expense: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Cost and Expense interchangeably?
Not always. Cost and Expense 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.