Cool MateCharge vs Expense vs Fee vs Price vs This cost
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Charge
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Expense
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Fee
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Price
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
This cost
Top 2,000 (common)
| Charge | Expense | Fee | Price | This cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃɑːrdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspens/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspens/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/fiː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fiː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs kɒst//🇺🇸 //ðɪs kɔst// |
| Meaning | To request payment for 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. | The amount of money needed to buy something. |
| Example | I need to charge my phone because the battery is low. | 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. | I wasn’t expecting **this cost** to be so high. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 | B2 | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | 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, 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 | determine this cost, reduce this cost, explain this cost |
| Antonyms | credit, refund | 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. | 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. | Confusing 'cost' with 'price'; they can have slightly different connotations., Using 'this' incorrectly; ensure it refers to a nearby or recently mentioned object. |
| 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 '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'. | Use 'this cost' when discussing specific prices. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Charge vs Expense vs Fee vs Price vs This cost
What's the difference between Charge, Expense, Fee, Price, and This cost?
Charge: To request payment for 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. This cost: The amount of money needed to buy something.
Can you show an example of each?
Charge: I need to charge my phone because the battery is low. 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. This cost: I wasn’t expecting **this cost** to be so high.
Can I use Charge, Expense, Fee, Price, and This cost interchangeably?
Not always. Charge, Expense, Fee, Price, and This 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.