it means the transaction cost for the derivative contract. not the underlying. saying equity option, if you just trade on the underlying(the equity), you need to pay certain amount of money to own the underlying asset, but for option contract on this underlying, the cost will be lower.
Yep, in addition to eric4xin said. Considering future and forward contract, you don't have to buy the underlying asset to make money. You can just use another future contract to end the previous contract. There is no freight or storage fees.