What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cost
Example
The cost of the new car was too high for me to afford. [cost: noun]
Example
It will cost us a lot of money to renovate the house. [cost: verb]
charge
Example
The restaurant charged us $10 for the meal. [charge: verb]
Example
The charge for the hotel room was included in the package. [charge: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cost is more commonly used than charge in everyday language. Cost is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while charge is more specific and is mostly used in financial contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between cost and charge?
Both cost and charge can be used in formal and informal contexts, but cost is generally considered more formal and professional than charge.
