Prices have been in the news lately, with gas skyrocketing, utility bills out of control, and groceries getting more and more expensive. All this talk about how much stuff costs got us curious about the extremes on both ends. What are the cheapest examples of things we could find, and also the most costly? We set out across the area with the goal of rooting out great deals and tracking down wild extravagances. Along the way, we ate super-cheap frankfurters and sipped over-the-top cocktails, tried on used shoes and ogled a half-million-dollar ring. What follows is the result of those efforts. It isn’t possible to be definitive (prices change all the time, for one thing), so think of this as a snapshot of what we were able to find during a month long bout of research. If you know of higher or lower examples, let us know!
Records
Free vs. $1,000
Gratis grooves: Dollar-bin discs are common, but Som Records on 14th Street takes cheapo vinyl to the next level with a box full of albums that cost nothing. The stuff isn’t exactly collectible: Freebies tend to be less desirable records acquired by the store as part of a larger collection. Still, on a recent trip we scored some enjoyable oddities, like an LP from groovy flutist Tim Weisberg and a Bette Midler disco album (above left).
A four-figure disc: Rare vinyl can cost a ton—two of the priciest examples we spotted locally were at HR Records (Albert Ayler’s Spiritual Unity) and Byrdland Records (the Dream Syndicate’s Medicine Show), each $400. But the costliest we found was at CD Cellar in Falls Church, where a copy of Lightnin’ Hopkins’s Lightnin’ and the Blues was $1,000 (above right).
Sneakers
$3 vs. $5,000
Thrift-Store Sneaks We can’t really recommend used sneakers, as sizing is so limited and—in the case of shoes used for actual athletics—they wear out and could cause injury. But if you insist, there are plenty of thrift stores in the area that stock shoes. At St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Opportunity Shop in Cathedral Heights, we found a large storage bin in the back corner full of sneakers and other footwear. The best deal was a pair of Altra running shoes—women’s size 7 (above left), if that happens to fit you—for less than a coffee at the Starbucks down the street.
Collectible Kicks On the third floor of Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is a shoe consignment shop, Sneaker Vault, where some of the area’s most desirable footwear is on display. You can grab Balenciaga Runners for $700, say, or Bottega Veneta Orbits for $800. Coveted pairs in mint condition line the walls. But the standout is up front in the window: a pair of blue Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1’s from 2022 (above right), designed by the late Virgil Abloh. The size 9½ sneakers are $5,000—not crazy by the standards of collectible sneakers. A different style of Abloh Air Force 1’s once sold at auction for more than $350,000.
Beer
$1 vs. $60
The Artemis in Columbia Heights cranks out draft beers (above left) for a buck Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 6. Meanwhile, the liquor store Hop, Cask & Barrel sometimes has Birrificio Baladin’s rare barleywine beer, Xyauyu Kioke (above right). When it’s in stock, a 500-ml bottle of the cult beverage is $60.
Gym Membership
Free vs. $895
DC’s Department of Parks and Recreation operates rec-center gyms (above left) in every ward, with free memberships for District residents. That’s a long way from the ultra-luxe Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown (above right), which has memberships that let locals use its facilities. The seasonal package runs $895 per month, which gets you one monthly class along with other benefits.
Omakase Sushi
$42 vs. $350
“Cheap” is a relative term when it comes to cheffy sushi, but the omakase express during lunch at Dear Sushi at Love, Makoto (above left) is a comparably low $42. By contrast, Dupont Circle favorite Sushi Taro (above right) offers a memorable, wallet-busting $350 omakase on weekends.
Pen
15 cents vs. $25,500
Plain old plastic: The Family Dollar on H Street, Northeast, sells a ten-pack of Highmarks gel pens (above left) in assorted hues for $1.50, making the price for a single pen 15 cents. With a comfort grip and a wide variety of colors, these writing instruments are practical and functional, and you’ll feel zero guilt when you forget one of them at the coffee shop, like we do basically once a week. You won’t impress anyone by displaying them on your desk, but if the goal is simply to put ink to paper, it’s hard to argue with this option.
Jewelry that writes: Bertram’s Inkwell in Rockville is packed with unique pens, specialty ink, and beautiful stationery. The Montblanc Airbus A380 Skeleton Limited Edition 380 fountain pen (above right) is its most expensive offering. The solid-white-gold-and-platinum-plated implement commemorates the A380 airliner, replicating its double-decker windows and distinctive shape. Half a carat of diamonds encrust its handle and cap. Part of what makes this pen so expensive is its scarcity—the edition found at Bertram’s is one of only 380 ever made. You probably shouldn’t make your grocery list with it: Store owner Bert Oser says that while you could write with the Montblanc Airbus, most collectors buy such pens only for display purposes. Our advice? Pick up this one and the Family Dollar option: That’s a real deal at just $25,500.15.
Dog Grooming
$38 vs. $210
To get quotes, we made up a shih tzu named Lily. Petco in Fairfax would give our faux pooch a bath-and-floof (above left) for under 40 bucks. Dupont’s Masterpiece Canine Spa (above right) offers luxury treatment: spa bath, hand blowout, nail trim and file, ear cleaning, external gland expression, and full haircut for $210.
Bicycle
$180 vs. $15,750
Facebook Marketplace has low- (and no-) cost offerings, but consider the Gearin’ Up community bicycle shop (above left), which sells donated bikes for a good cause, such as a recent Fuji Pulsar for $180. At Conte’s Bike Shop (above right) in Arlington, a super-fancy Pinarello Dogma F goes for . . . a lot more.
Cocktail
$5 vs. $95
Drinks and dice: Dupont Circle staple the Board Room offers $5 rail drinks (above left) during happy hour, 4 to 7 Monday through Friday and noon to 7 on weekends. It’s not exactly top-notch mixology: Take your choice of vodka, rum, tequila, bourbon, or gin paired with one of 11 simple mixers. We’re happy to report that in this case, cheap doesn’t mean watery. When we stopped in recently, the alcohol hit us right in the face. That put us in the proper frame of mind for the place’s other major draw, which is suggested by its name. A slew of fun-when-you’re-buzzed board games are available for your enjoyment, including Sorry, Pictionary, and chess. Who wouldn’t want to spend a tipsy Saturday afternoon sipping gin-and-tonics and trouncing their friends at Connect Four?
Bubbly beverage, big bucks: The French 75 at Dauphine’s goes for $158—it uses fancy Cognac and comes with half a bottle of Champagne on the side—but technically, that’s a drink for two to share. So instead we’re going with the Sbagliato Negroni at Jônt on 14th Street (above right). A mix of Campari, Mancino Rosso vermouth, and Champagne, it comes in two versions. The regular one will set you back $45 (still quite expensive!). But if you’d prefer the full blowout experience, order the iteration made with high-end Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne and pricey vintage Campari. You’ll be paying almost a hundred bucks for the pleasure, so don’t chug it down too fast (unless you can afford a second one). Also on the beverage menu is the restaurant’s slightly cheaper Vintage Negroni, which runs $80 and swaps out the Krug for gin. Or you could just get a beer for $15.
Flower Bouquet
$4.99 vs. $600
A petite bouquet at Trader Joe’s goes for less than $5 (above left). Or you could spend a whole lot more at Caruso Florist (above right) in Dupont Circle: “The Queen’s Crown” is a gorgeous arrangement featuring kale, lilacs, palm leaves, tulips, and more.
Overnight Stay
Free vs. $20,000
Bring a tent to Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Overnight Campsite (above left) on the C&O Canal for first-come, first-served access to no-cost camping. Or, for $20,000 a night and up, try the Royal Suite at the Four Seasons (above right). You’ll rest where Oprah and Brad Pitt have.
Steak
$14.99 vs. $640
At the Outback (above left) in Arlington, we found a six-ounce sirloin that costs less than 15 bucks from 11 am to 4 pm. Or for the price of about 43 of those, you could try Bourbon Steak’s (above right) eight-ounce Wagyu.
Caviar Service
$55 vs. $300
For some reason, the informal Petworth eatery Honeymoon Chicken (above left) offers caviar: $55 for one ounce, along with some trappings. Over at Fiola (above right), Calvisius Tradition Elite caviar goes for $300 an ounce. It’s “elegant, buttery, saline,” according to the menu.
Ring
$15.94 vs. $468,000
A cubic-zirconia engagement ring at the Walmart (above left) in Alexandria is just $15.94. On the high—and real—end, we found an emerald-cut, approximately five-carat engagement ring at Market Street Diamonds (above right) in Georgetown for almost half a million dollars.
Hot Dog
$2 vs. $44
How many can you eat? After the kitchen closes at 10 pm, Mad Hatter (above left) in Dupont Circle offers a food special that helps with both late-night cravings and wallet worries: a $2 frank. Called the Hatter Hot Dog, it’s promoted on a sign above the bar, a callback to a 1980s tradition at its sister spot, the Bottom Line. Ketchup and mustard bottles are available nearby for self-service. According to general manager Mikias Abebayehu, the place sells 50 to 225 dogs a night, give or take. Sometimes a bunch of those are consumed by the same person: Abebayehu says friends will take advantage of the great deal by engaging in hot-dog-eating competitions. At most bars, $30 might get you two cocktails. Mad Hatter will load you up with a belt-loosening 15 sausages.
More elevated than Oscar Mayer: A staple of ball games and cookouts, the humble hot dog has no business costing as much as a high-end restaurant entrée. But Lobby Bar (above right), an American eatery across from Eastern Market, is amping up its dogs—and beefing up the price tag. The $44 Lobby Wagyu Glizzy is much longer than its bun, substantially girthier than a trad dog, and—as the name suggests—made of ultra-fancy beef. It’s placed in a buttered and toasted bun, topped with (no surprise) Dijon mustard and (huh?!) Imperial Osetra caviar, and served with a side of housemade potato chips. The concoction has been on the menu since January and is apparently quite popular: On one recent slow Tuesday night, four other patrons had requested one of the creations before we did. Our server told us that one guy had come in recently and gotten six Glizzy dogs for takeout. When we ordered one of them, we pointed awkwardly at the name on the menu, a bit embarrassed to speak the word “glizzy” out loud. (The server told us she also tends to avoid uttering the full name.) Is this caviar-smothered gourmet wiener a gimmick? Maybe so. Did it taste good? For sure: We have to admit we were savoring every snappy, rich bite.
This article appears in the May 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
Samantha is an Editorial Fellow at the Washingtonian and a senior at American University, studying Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies. She lives in Washington, D.C.
