2014 Germany for the final at category 1 was 990$, less than half, accounting for inflation and generously rounding this would be 1400$.

Edit: Less than half for Cat 4 right now

I would recommend anything Thermal Grizzly: https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/

Simply because the owner has two 1 hour long videos explaining how its made and tested and it actually seems to be one of the best.

In my first practical chemistry course I referred to a container filled with gas as “gas chamber”, to make things worse I am german…