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Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with cost

Cost combines with several prepositions depending on whether you describe value, purpose, spending, or inclusion.

Quick answer

Common prepositions with cost

Use cost of for the price or impact of something, cost for for a charge connected to a service or item, on costs after spending verbs, and with cost in expressions about inclusion or comparison. Cost in is limited to specific expressions such as increase in cost.

the cost of living
the cost for delivery
they cut spending on costs
products with low costs sold quickly

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
cost of + thing

Price, effect, or sacrifice

Use cost of for what something requires or is worth.

the cost of repairs
the human cost of war
2
cost for + service/item

Charges connected to something

Use cost for when specifying what the charge relates to.

the cost for shipping
a higher cost for international calls
3
on costs

Spending and reductions

Use on with verbs such as spend, save, or cut.

the company saved money on costs
they spent too much on costs last year
4
with + cost expression

Describing accompanying costs

Use with to describe something that includes or involves costs.

a plan with low costs
services with no extra cost
5
increase in cost

Changes in price

Use in with nouns showing change or difference.

an increase in cost worried customers
a reduction in costs was announced

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
cost of
The cost of fuel has risen.
price, effect, or sacrifice
cost in
There was an increase in cost this year.
change involving cost
cost for
The cost for repairs was surprisingly high.
charge related to something
on costs
The firm cut back on costs.
spending or reductions
with cost
The package comes with no extra cost.
accompanying or included expense

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using cost to

Cost does not normally take to directly as a noun.

✕ the cost to repairs ✓ the cost of repairs

Confusing cost of and cost for

Cost of is broader and more common for general prices.

✕ the cost for living ✓ the cost of living

Using in cost without a change noun

In cost usually follows words like increase or reduction.

✕ the product in cost ✓ the increase in cost

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The ___ living has increased sharply.
2. They reduced spending ___ costs.
3. There was a sudden increase ___ cost.

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Frequently asked questions

Is cost of or cost for more common?

Cost of is more general and more widely used.

Can I say increase in cost?

Yes. In is natural after nouns such as increase, drop, or reduction.

Is cost with correct English?

With appears in larger expressions such as with no extra cost or with low costs.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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