The paper considers a function \(M_ p(x)\) that specifies the minimum income needed at prices p to obtain a consumption vector preferred to x. This function is called a money metric. Sufficient conditions on the consumption set, on the preference relation, and on the prices are given ensuring that the money metric is a well-defined and continuous utility function on a subset of the consumption set. Applications to discrete- choice problems are mentioned. The paper also discusses an extension of the money metric to the entire consumption set, and conditions under which the dual of a money metric is an indirect utility function.