How to say "costs" in Japanese

• 経費けいひJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'costs' as expenditure or outgoings, typically the money a business or organization spends in the course of its activities. It carries a slightly formal, bookkeeping-like nuance, so it suits accounting or office contexts.
  私わたしたちは、経費けいひを切きりつめなければならない。↗

  We must cut down our expenses.
• 掛かりかかりCommon
  nounCovers 'costs' as the expenses involved in doing something. It emphasizes the money required to carry out a particular task or activity, and is somewhat narrower in feel than 経費, which remains the safer everyday choice for general expense talk.

For 'costs' meaning money spent, 経費 refers to expenses incurred, especially business or organizational outgoings, while 「掛かり」 expresses the expenses required for doing something; choose based on whether you mean business expenditure or the cost of a specific activity.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 経費けいひexpenses
• 訴訟費用そしょうひよう(lawsuit) costs
• 掛かりかかりexpenses
• 入り用いりようcosts