What is the definition of opportunity cost
Emily Cortez
Published Feb 27, 2026
What is the best definition of opportunity cost?
Opportunity costs represent the potential benefits an individual, investor, or business misses out on when choosing one alternative over another.What is the definition of opportunity cost in economics?
“Opportunity cost is the value of the next-best alternative when a decision is made; it’s what is given up,” explains Andrea Caceres-Santamaria, senior economic education specialist at the St. Louis Fed, in a recent Page One Economics: Money and Missed Opportunities.What are opportunity costs examples?
Examples of Opportunity Cost. Someone gives up going to see a movie to study for a test in order to get a good grade. The opportunity cost is the cost of the movie and the enjoyment of seeing it. At the ice cream parlor, you have to choose between rocky road and strawberry.What is an example of opportunity cost in business?
Small businesses factor in opportunity costs when computing their operating expenses in order to provide a bid or estimate on the price of a job. For example, a landscaping firm may be bidding on two jobs each of which will use half of its equipment during a particular period of time.What is opportunity cost in economics class 12?
An opportunity cost is the cost of an alternative that must be forgone in order to pursue a certain action. In other words, the cost of enjoying more of one good in terms of sacrificing the benefit of another good is termed as opportunity cost of the additional unit of the good.What is opportunity cost in economics class 11?
What is Opportunity Cost in Economics ? Opportunity Costs are the benefits that an individual, investor or business forego (miss out) , when they choose one alternative over another. Opportunity Cost is the next best alternative, which is foregone, when a particular alternative is chosen.How do you calculate opportunity cost examples?
How to Calculate Opportunity Cost- Opportunity Cost = Return on Most Profitable Investment Choice – Return on Investment Chosen to Pursue.
- Opportunity Cost = $80,000 (selling ten cars worth $8,000 each) – $60,000 (selling 5 trucks worth $12,000 each)
- Opportunity Cost = $20,000.
What is another word for opportunity cost?
Hypernym for Opportunity cost:cost of capital, carrying cost, capital cost, carrying charge.