We observe the cost or price of an item or product before purchasing it. Cost is the value that is considered to produce the product or that item. Cost is one of the major factors in selecting one item over two other items of a similar kind. We have many kinds of costs. We have different kinds of costs based on the concept of how they are calculated. Opportunity cost and Marginal cost are two concepts related to the cost.
Opportunity vs Marginal Cost
The main difference between Opportunity and Marginal Cost is the concept that is applied to calculate them. In detail, Opportunity cost is an economic concept that represents the relationship between scarcity and other options. Whereas Marginal cost is the economic concept that expresses the cost of the production in producing an additional item.
Opportunity cost is the value that a person might have received instead of another option. It can also be defined as the maximum amount that a person has foregone by accepting some other work instead of it. These are not real costs; they are just illusions costs that it might be. They have usually overlooked costs.
Marginal cost is the additional cost required to produce another new unit. It is simply the monetary value. It is termed the basic concept of finance and economics. Marginal cost is the additional value required to manufacture an excess product or service. Marginal costs include fixed costs and variable costs too.
Comparison Table Between Opportunity and Marginal Cost
| Parameters of Comparison | Opportunity Cost | Marginal Cost |
| Definition | Opportunity cost is the difference value observed during the selection of one item instead of another. | Marginal cost is the value of producing an extra item. |
| Monetary value | Opportunity cost may or may not include the monetary value. | Marginal cost always includes the monetary value. |
| Visibility | Opportunity costs are not that transparent. | Marginal costs are transparent and clearly visible. |
| Included in | Opportunity cost is included in the choice of consumers. | Marginal cost is included in the cost of production. |
| Others | Opportunity costs include the benefits or advantages like money, time, etc., in selecting an item instead of another. | Marginal costs don’t include the benefits or advantages in selecting an item instead of another. |
What is Opportunity Cost?
Opportunity cost is the value of benefits or price that had been forgone in choosing an item or service over the other. Opportunity costs not only include extra value in terms of money but also contains the value of time and other benefits too. Opportunity cost is simply the difference between choosing one item over the other. They are not seen clearly. They are simply calculated by comparing the items.
For instance, Jayanth works in a bakery as a chef. He earns 50,000 per month. But he thought that he could benefit through earning more by setting up a bakery on his own. After setting up his bakery, Jayanth earns 25,000 only in the first month. Here, he could have earned 25,000 more if he works as a chef. He lost 25,000, this is the opportunity cost of Jayanth in this month. Next month Jayanth earned 1 lakh from his bakery. In this month, 50,000 is the opportunity cost of Jayanth during the second month.
Opportunity cost is the benefits lost in choosing an item or service over another item or service. It does not affect the cost of production. It does not depend on any other costs or the total cost of production of goods or services. It is simply the difference cost between the benefits of a chosen item over other the item.
What is Marginal Cost?
Marginal cost is the extra value required to produce an extra unit, service, or item. We have two costs included in the marginal cost. They are static costs and non-static costs. Static costs are costs that do not change on the basis of any parameters. While non-static costs change due to the parameters of production. Hence, we can state that marginal costs are dependent on non-static costs.
For example, consider a swimming pool in a resort. The cost of filling the pool with water will be the same for 5 members or 10 members. As we need to fill the pool complete with water for a minimum or a maximum number of people. So, the cost required to pump the water comes under the static costs. While chlorine requirement for cleaning depends on the season and members in the pool. Hence the cost of chlorine comes under non-static costs. Here Marginal cost for service depends on the chlorine cost, which comes under the non-static costs.
Marginal cost is usually associated with the production of additional units or services of some kind. Marginal costs bring out changes in the total cost of production of the service or items. Marginal cost is dependent on non-static or variable costs. Hence, marginal cost exists when there exist non-static costs in the total value of production. Marginal cost can be defined as the ratio of the change in the total cost of production to the change in the quantity of the production.
Main Differences Between Opportunity and Marginal Cost
- Opportunity cost is the value or the benefits of gained or lost choosing an item over the other. While Marginal cost is the value of producing extra item or service.
- Opportunity cost is independent of total cost of production. In contrary Marginal cost depends on the variable costs of total cost of production.
- Opportunity costs does not depend on external parameters like labour, time or outputs. Marginal costs depend on the external parameters like worker wages etc.,
- Opportunity cost may or may not be monetary value. While marginal cost is always a monetary value.
- Opportunity cost is the monetary value or benefit differences between two items or more than two items. While marginal cost is amount required to produce an item.
Conclusion
To be exact, opportunity cost and marginal cost are two different terms that are not comparable. Since opportunity cost is something that is related to the comparison between items or services. Opportunity cost lists us the monetary value and non-monetary benefits of choosing an item or service over the other.
Marginal cost is the monetary value in producing an item or service. Marginal cost is affected by the variable cost. Marginal cost is incurred in the total cost of production. While marginal cost is usually affected by the external parameters in the cost of production. Marginal cost is always the monetary value. Marginal cost is the ratio of change in the total cost of production to the change in units produced.
References
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/2490379
- https://www.bmj.com/content/312/7022/35.short