It's tempting to look back to the pre-pandemic years and feel a pang of nostalgia for lower prices. Since 2020, the cost of living crisis has pushed up everything from food and fuel to rents and mortgages, leaving many households distinctly worse off. But the inflation surge hasn't been universal.

While most essentials and luxuries have become more expensive, some products have quietly moved in the opposite direction.

Read on to discover 11 things that have actually become more affordable since 2020.

All dollar values in US dollars

TV prices have dropped 90% this century, more than almost any other consumer product. OLED panel prices have halved since 2020 alone.

Economies of scale are a huge factor: screens are now cut from supersized 'mother glass' sheets, which has slashed costs. Chips and other components are far cheaper these days, while periods of oversupply have pushed prices down further.

Intense competition, especially from China, has squeezed margins and many smart TVs are now sold as loss leaders funded by ads and data. That said, tariffs and a global memory shortage are threatening to end the long slide, though retail prices remain reassuringly low.

Used electric car (EV) prices have dropped sharply across many major markets since 2020. Rapid growth in EV production, price cuts on new models and subsidy changes have fed more supply into the second-hand market, pushing values down.

In several countries, used EVs have fallen faster than comparable combustion-engine cars, narrowing the cost gap for buyers. Tesla does appear to be bucking the trend in the US but, for the most part, buying a used electric car has never been so affordable.

Good news for the planet and for households looking to cut energy bills: solar panels are much cheaper now compared to 2020. Massive manufacturing expansion in China has led to oversupply in the global market, pushing module prices down markedly. At the same time, improvements in efficiency mean panels now generate more power for less money.

While installation costs vary by country, the price per watt of solar has plummeted, though trade tensions and the rising price of silver, a crucial panel input, could end up raining on the parade somewhat.

Lithium batteries continue to tumble in price, which is another win for the green transition. In 2025, the typical cost of a pack fell to $108 (£80) per kilowatt hour, an 8% drop from 2024 and over a third cheaper than the 2020 price, according to BloombergNEF.

Costs have eased thanks to massive overproduction in China, fierce competition and a shift toward cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which eschew expensive metals such as cobalt and nickel.

Now decidedly less exclusive, diamonds are dramatically more affordable compared to 2020, in contrast to the prices of silver and gold. Lab-created stones are driving this stark shift. Virtually indistinguishable from mined rocks, they're now produced in ever-growing quantities at increasingly lower cost in India and elsewhere. Prices have fallen by as much as 80% since 2020, say the deVere Group.

Needless to say, natural diamonds have been feeling the pressure. Prices for mined stones have slipped by almost a third since 2022 as lab-grown alternatives have eaten into their market share and muted demand.

Once an expensive gadget for a diehard hobbyist only, a state-of-the-art camera drone is much easier on the wallet now. Prices have fallen every single year since 2020 and are expected to continue their downward trajectory, in spite of headwinds like tariffs and regulatory issues.

Again, factors like increased competition among manufacturers, particularly in China, ever-greater economies of scale and cheaper components are behind the falling prices.

Tracing your roots using the latest DNA technology has never been so budget-friendly. A genetic ancestry kit cost upwards of $1,000 in the late 2000s. As the technology became more cost-effective, demand grew and competition ramped up, prices fell enormously in the 2010s, and have continued to shrink.

By way of example, the cheapest kit out there from MyHeritage could be snapped up on sale for $39 in the US and £39 in the UK back in 2020. The lowest promo price now stands at $25 Stateside and £27 in Britain, with similar discounts in other key markets like Canada and Australia.

An all-out global robovac price war has broken out in the past few years. Chinese brands now dominate the category and have pushed rivals hard on price through rapid product cycles and aggressive retail discounting.

Meanwhile, the technology has become more economical yet more sophisticated, with today's cheapest entry-level models equivalent to pricey mid-range units from 2020. It's little wonder then that so many people are turning to the devices, with take-up reportedly going through the roof.

Smart security cameras are how ubiquitous in homes around the world and prices continue to get cheaper. By way of example, the Ring Stick Up Cam was priced at $99.99 in the US and £89.99 in the UK when it launched in late 2019. Today, its successor, simply called the Ring Outdoor Camera, sells for $79.99 in America and £79.99 across the pond.

Falling component costs, scaled-up production and mounting competition from global rivals have pushed prices down, while video quality, battery life and app features have improved.

Smartwatches have come down in price since 2020 and now offer much better features. When the original Apple Watch SE launched in 2020, it cost $279 in the US and £269 in the UK. The upgraded Apple Watch SE 3, which boasts better performance, improved sensors and extra functions, now starts at only $249 in the US and £219 in the UK. It's similarly cheaper in other Western markets.

Yet again, we have factors like increased competition and falling component costs to thank for the price dip.

No longer niche and prohibitively expensive, hobby-grade 3D printers are much more mainstream and affordable compared to 2020. In 2025, buyers could access machines comparable to professional models from five years earlier at prices up to 20 times lower, according to industry analyst Fabbaloo.

This price squeeze is being driven by cut-throat competition, technological advancements and cheaper components  At the same time, growing consumer interest in DIY tech, education and creativity is boosting demand for the handy machines.

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