Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Cost of Living” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Cost of Living

1. What does “cost of living” mean to you?
2. How does the cost of living affect your daily life?
3. What are some basic needs that contribute to the cost of living?
4. How do you think the cost of living changes in different cities?
5. What factors can cause the cost of living to increase?

II. Personal Experiences with Cost of Living

6. How do you manage your budget to deal with the cost of living?
7. Have you ever moved to a different city because of the cost of living?
8. What is the most expensive thing you pay for each month?
9. Do you think you have enough money to cover your living costs?
10. How do you feel about the cost of living in your country?

III. Cost of Living and Employment

11. How does your job affect your cost of living?
12. Do you think salaries are high enough to cover the cost of living?
13. What jobs do you think pay well in high cost of living areas?
14. Have you ever considered a job change because of the cost of living?
15. How do you think remote work affects the cost of living?

IV. Cost of Living Around the World

16. Which countries do you think have a high cost of living?
17. Are there countries where the cost of living is lower than yours?
18. How do you think the cost of living affects people’s happiness?
19. What do you think about the cost of living in tourist areas?
20. How can people save money when traveling to expensive countries?

V. Saving and Budgeting

21. What are some tips for saving money on living costs?
22. How do you create a budget for your expenses?
23. Do you think it is important to save money for emergencies?
24. How often do you review your budget?
25. What is one thing you would like to save money for?

VI. Cost of Living and Lifestyle

26. How does your lifestyle affect your cost of living?
27. Do you think people should change their lifestyle to lower costs?
28. What hobbies can be expensive and affect the cost of living?
29. How do you think social activities impact your budget?
30. What is one thing you enjoy that is also affordable?

VII. Government and Cost of Living

31. How can the government help people with high living costs?
32. Do you think taxes affect the cost of living?
33. What programs can help low-income families with living costs?
34. How do housing policies affect the cost of living?
35. Should the government control prices to help with living costs?

VIII. Future of Cost of Living

36. How do you think the cost of living will change in the next 10 years?
37. What new technologies could help reduce living costs?
38. How might climate change affect the cost of living?
39. Do you think remote work will change the cost of living in cities?
40. What do you hope for the future of living costs?

IX. Cost of Living and Health

41. How does the cost of living affect your health choices?
42. Do you think healthy food is more expensive?
43. How can people stay healthy without spending too much money?
44. What role does healthcare play in the cost of living?
45. How can exercise help save money on health costs?

X. Community and Cost of Living

46. How can communities work together to lower living costs?
47. What local resources can help with living costs?
48. How can sharing services help reduce costs in a community?
49. What community programs can help families with low income?
50. How important is community support in managing living costs?

XI. Education and Cost of Living

51. How does education affect the cost of living?
52. Do you think education is worth the cost?
53. How can scholarships help reduce the cost of living for students?
54. What are some affordable ways to continue learning?
55. How can education help people earn more money to cover living costs?

XII. Reflections on Cost of Living

56. What is one thing you wish you knew about the cost of living before?
57. How do you think your views on cost of living will change in the future?
58. What advice would you give to someone moving to a new city?
59. How has your understanding of cost of living changed over time?
60. What do you think is the most important thing to consider about cost of living?
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