Definition of "Cost of living"

LaRay Hampton real estate agent

Written by

LaRay Hamptonelite badge icon

EXP Realty LLC

The definition of cost of living is the amount of money you need to have in order to sustain a certain lifestyle. The cost of living refers to the amount of money you spend on housing, food, gas, and other items. It is an easy way to measure a person's standard of living and cost of living estimates allow for comparison between locations.

Cost of living and lifestyle

The cost of living is an index. A numerical value that shows you if your expenses are high or low. This makes it possible to compare the cost of living between cities, states or countries. The cost of living is highly determined by the area you live in, it’s economy, the job market, and others.

If a city has a high cost of living we consider it an expensive city. On the other end, a city with a low cost of living is a more affordable city. This classification is possible at a larger scale, therefore, counties, states, and nations have a cost of living associated with them.

The standard of living is also impacted by a person’s income. A high income in a city with a low cost of living offers that person a comfortable lifestyle. On the other hand, expensive cities with a high cost of living, means those common items, as well as payments, are going to be higher. That would require a higher salary if you want to sustain the standard of living in an expensive city.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Suppose you wish to become a legit professional in a specific domain. In that case, you have to get a license, an official permit, or a document. A license acknowledges your studies and ...

Changing property ownership. An example is the sale of a home to another. ...

Land surveying measurement that is 16.5 feet in length, or 5 1/2 yards. A perch is also called a rod or a pole. Today the term perch is seldom used. It is found in old deeds, surveys, and ...

House made using standardized components that are preassembled on an assembly line in a factory rather than being built from "scratch" on a site. Normally, the prefabricate house is trucked ...

Voluntary giving up of a right of a lien, usually on a temporary basis. The waiver may be explicitly stated or implied. An example is when a lender waives its right of lien against ...

A promise to uphold a guarantor's contractual or financial responsibility in the even of default. ...

Certification granted by the Realtors National Marketing Institute upon successful completion of an education program and the required residential sales experience. Candidates must already ...

Place where real estate is situated. The geographic location of property affects its value. For example, real estate in a good neighborhood is worth more. ...

Bankruptcy declared by any insolvent person or business. In contrast to involuntary bankruptcy, which is applied for by the creditors. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions