so-expensive

US defense spending is on track to top $1 trillion for the first time in history. Congress approved $900 billion for defense in 2026, and President Donald Trump has since proposed a staggering $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, the largest request in decades.

Spencer Macnaughton has been losing his hair since his 20s. Getting a hair transplant in New York City would cost up to $20,000. So Spencer did what nearly a million people do every year: He flew to Istanbul.

In 2019, the plant-based meat industry experienced explosive growth.

Disney theme parks have become significantly more expensive, with prices for food, merchandise, and tickets rising much faster than inflation. A Mickey ice cream bar that cost $2.75 in 2009 now costs $6.50, and top-tier annual passes have nearly doubled in price over the past decade.

Seeing your favorite artist onstage has never been more expensive. In the 1960s, a ticket to see The Beatles could cost around $5. In 2024, the average concert ticket in the US was nearly $136. And on the resale market, prices can jump to almost double that, with some Taylor Swift fans paying thousands of dollars for a single seat.

Ultramarine blue, or "true blue," was once more valuable than gold. In 1824, a synthetic version called French ultramarine made the color more accessible. But ultramarine blue made from real lapis lazuli can sell for over $60 an ounce today.

Yuzu has been trending in the United States for a few years now. Michelin-starred chefs, craft breweries, and foodies across the country pay a premium for the hard-to-find fruit. All the while, in Japan, yuzu has been a staple for centuries.

Student-grade colored pencils and professional-grade ones vary drastically not only in their price but how they're made. A set of 120 Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils costs $350, 14 times as much as a similar box of Crayola colored pencils. And some brands price their sets at over $550.

Buying a little over a kilo of fresh mangosteens in the United States can set you back nearly $80. This delicate fruit needs specific environmental conditions to grow, and picking the mangosteens at the perfect moment is crucial to ensure optimal flavor and texture, adding to the complexity of harvesting.

From American-made Martin acoustic guitars in Pennsylvania to handcrafted ceremonial gongs in Thailand, we traveled the world to uncover the stories behind how different musical instruments are made.