Check out the classified section here, There are usually several razors in the $40-60 range that would be a good first razor. If you don't see anything you like today keep checking back each day. There are new ones being added daily
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Well, it's not all that expensive if you choose not to make it so.
But consider what it takes to have an ounce of extremely high quality steel be ground into final shape by hand and then also by hand sharpened to the sharpest edge that it can take and that you will encounter, and you will realize it's actually very cheap for such high precision instrument.
The gillette/schick cartridges that are molded plastic with tiny strips of high quality steel that is machine honed by the miles have comparable pricing.
I think Dovo sells their pearlex scales for around $10-$20, and if your time isn't worth too much you can even buy a piece of acrylic for few dollars and shape it to scales.