"Cost of living" implies that simply existing has a financial burden. It normalizes the idea that basic human needs—such as shelter, food, healthcare, and education—are commodities that must be bought, rather than fundamental rights. In a more just and ideal society, the essentials required for a decent life would be accessible to all, rather than tied to economic pressures. The fact that we’ve accepted the term reflects how deeply embedded inequality and market-driven systems are in our lives, making survival a transaction rather than a guarantee.
Posted on LinkedIn by someone named Kasper Benjamin Reimer Bjørkskov. It struck a chord in me.
