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A primary advantage of a case-control study is that it is inexpensive to conduct. Case-control studies are often retrospective, meaning researchers look back at existing records or past events to identify cases (individuals with the disease) and controls (individuals without the disease). This design typically requires fewer resources compared to other types of studies, like cohort studies, which may require tracking individuals over time and incurring ongoing costs for data collection.

The focus on existing data also minimizes the need for large samples or lengthy follow-up periods, which are common in prospective studies. This makes it a practical choice for researchers, particularly when investigating rare diseases or outcomes, as the time and cost involved can be significant when studying large populations over extended periods. Thus, the cost-effectiveness of case-control studies allows researchers to efficiently explore associations between exposures and outcomes without the heavy financial burden that other study designs may carry.