How to say "expense" in Japanese

• 費ひJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun (suffix)Covers the same 'cost, expense' sense as 費用, but it is really a building block: it appears chiefly inside compound words naming particular kinds of expense, and is seldom used on its own.
  製造せいぞう費ひは予算よさんの３６パーセントと見積みつもっている。↗

  I estimate the production costs to be 36 percent of the budget.
• 費用ひようJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word to use when 'expense' or 'cost' stands alone as a noun: money spent or required for something, as in discussing what a trip or a project will cost.
  諸しょ設備せつびの費用ひようは払はらっていただきます。↗

  You have to pay for utilities.

For 'expense' as an independent noun, 費用 is the word you want; 費 has the same meaning but works mainly as the element inside compound words naming particular kinds of expense, rarely standing alone.

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

• 費ひcost
• 費用ひようcost
• エクスペンスexpense