Cool MateCost vs Price
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cost
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Price
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
| Cost | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kɒst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɔːst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪs/"]/ |
| Meaning | The amount of money needed to buy something. | The amount of money you need to pay for something. |
| Example | The cost of the new car is very high. | The price of the book is ten dollars. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| 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 | 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 | free, no cost | free, costlessness |
| 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 '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 | 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. | Used in everyday conversations about buying and selling. Not typically used in very formal writing, which might prefer 'cost'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Cost vs Price
What's the difference between Cost and Price?
Cost: The amount of money needed to buy something. Price: The amount of money you need to pay for something.
Are Cost and Price the same CEFR level?
Cost: A1, Price: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Cost and Price?
Cost: noun, Price: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Cost: The cost of the new car is very high. Price: The price of the book is ten dollars.
Can I use Cost and Price interchangeably?
Not always. Cost 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.