[Grammar] Does "cost of living" need to be hyphenated?

[Mike MC]

Passages 1, third edition, page 25

It doesn't seem right to me.

 

[teechar]

You're quite right. It should not be hyphenated.

 

[GoesStation]

You'll find that hyphenation rules are not well respected. I've noticed for some time now that many writers hyphenate any string of words that can be hyphenated in another context.