| price | The price of something is the amount of money that you must pay in order to buy it: 'I'm interested in the car, but the price is too high.' 'Food prices are relatively low at present.' |
| cost | The cost of something is the amount of money you must pay to buy, do, make or use it: 'The cost of having the car repaired was £340.' The cost of living (fixed phrase) = the general amount that the people living in a particular area or country have to pay for necessary goods and services: 'In urban areas the cost of living tends to be higher.' |
| costs | Your costs are the total amount of money you spend over a period of time in order to make or produce something, or continue an activity: 'Our costs have doubled over the last five years as a result of the increase in oil prices.' |
| charge | A charge is the amount of money that you must pay for a service or to be allowed to use something: 'The waiter explained that the bill included a 10% service charge.' 'There is also a small charge for delivery and installation.' If you do not have to pay for something, it is provided free of charge: 'The company has offered to install the software free of charge.' |
| fee | A fee is:
(1) a charge that you must pay to be allowed to do something: 'Most art galleries charge an entrance fee.' 'Every new student has to pay a registration fee.'
(2) (usually fees) a charge that you must pay for professional services such as those provided by doctors, lawyers, consultants, tutors, schools etc: 'My parents couldn't afford the school fees.''Last year alone, the company paid over $12 million in legal fees.' |
| rate | A rate is the amount of money that you have to pay for a service or for hiring something, especially one that is calculated on an hourly, weekly or monthly basis: 'His hourly rate is £60.' 'For a five-star hotel, the rates are very reasonable.' |
| rental | The rental is the amount of money that you have to pay to a hire company to use something for a fixed period of time: 'The car rental is $45 a day and you need a clean driving licence.' 'The rental on the TV doesn't include repairs.' See also CHEAP 1. |
| fare | a fare is the cost of a journey on a bus, train etc: 'How much is the train fare from Toronto to Montreal?' 'She spends $20 per week on bus fares.' |
| rent | Rent is the money you pay every week or month to live in or use a place that doesn't belong to you: 'The rent is £500 inclusive of bills.' |