Alice Morse Earle

Sunken gardens should be laid out under the supervision of an intelligent landscape architect; and even then should have a reason for being sunken other than a whim or increase in costliness.

American Historian

Consider what makes something costly: rarity, quality, or demand. Costliness often implies something's value or luxury status.

Context Matters

The word can suggest negative feelings, like the burden of paying a lot or the unfairness of high prices.

Negative Emotion

Sometimes costliness is positive, associated with prestige and desirability, like in luxury goods.

Not Always Bad

 basic health care -- Basics that you cannot fall below. Otherwise, when you go below that level, there is no opportunity, and actually, the costliness of it,