what is depreciated cost 
depreciated cost is the value of a fixed asset minus all of the accumulated depreciation that has been recorded against it in a broader economic sense the depreciated cost is the aggregate amount of capital that is used up in a given period such as a fiscal year the depreciated cost can be examined for trends in a company s capital spending and how aggressive their accounting methods are seen through how accurately they calculate depreciation depreciated cost is also known as the salvage value net book value or adjusted cost basis 