come down to price

Meaning

To have price as the single most important or deciding factor in a situation, decision, or negotiation. It indicates that despite other features or benefits, the cost is what ultimately matters.

Examples

• Both software options are great, so the final decision will come down to price.

  Both software options are great, so the final decision will come down to price.

• In negotiations like this, it almost always comes down to price in the end.

  In negotiations like this, it almost always comes down to price in the end.

• We have excellent features, but for many small businesses, it simply comes down to price.

  We have excellent features, but for many small businesses, it simply comes down to price.

• The client liked our proposal, but it came down to price, and we were too expensive.

  The client liked our proposal, but it came down to price, and we were too expensive.

• It shouldn't just come down to price; we also need to consider the quality of customer support.

  It shouldn't just come down to price; we also need to consider the quality of customer support.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The negotiation came down on price.

  ✓ The negotiation came down to price.

  The correct preposition is 'to'. 'Come down on' means to criticize or punish someone severely.

• ✗ It comes down price eventually.

  ✓ It comes down to price eventually.

  You must include 'to' to connect the phrasal verb 'come down' with the deciding factor.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We offer the best quality, but we might lose the contract because it will ultimately ___.

  💡 be decided based on cost

  Show answer

  come down to price

• When choosing a vendor, does it always ___ for your procurement team?

  💡 depend entirely on the cost

  Show answer

  come down to price