 Reviews were positive, though most critics found that the character of Eko was killed too soon in the show.Writing for Zap2it, Rick Porter said that while "The Cost of Living" was the best episode of season 3 thus far with "an illuminating flashback, some heavy island juju and a nice mix of the campers and the Others", the death of Eko removed from "Lost" "one of its most compelling characters and best actors, which just flat-out sucks.