- How much does a computer cost in 2024?

The computer cost can vary a lot. The cheapest office computers can be bought for as little as 200$ and top of the line business machines can exceed even 5000$. It all comes down to your needs.

Do you need a cheap laptop to check news and social media every now and then or a powerful PC for work?

So how much should you spend on your next PC? Should you go for a laptop or desktop? Which is the better form factor? What peripherals to choose? I’ll help you answer all these questions in this article.

MacBook Pro on brown wooden table inside room

What are your needs?

The most crucial question is what do you need your computer for.

Most people will use their computer for internet browsing, checking social media, watching YouTube or Netflix, gaming, and work.

If it’s just basic needs, I would recommend not spending too much on a computer. If you go beyond what you need with price, your budget won’t be happy and you won’t even use your computer to its fullest potential.

If you’re looking for a computer for work, then the cost will depend on the type of work you do. Cheaper options will mostly cover typical office work, while more expensive and powerful ones will do nicely for people with a need for such computing power (editing videos, rendering animations, 3D modeling, etc.).

Lastly, if you’re a frequent traveler you might consider a laptop for its convenience in taking it anywhere you want.

Screen and other peripherals

When buying a desktop PC you need to get a monitor, a mouse, a keyboard and probably speakers with it. No way around it. Even if you want a laptop you might want to have an additional monitor for it. Usually that need would be work related, but not only. But a laptop is a different story, which I will cover in a moment.

Monitor

So starting with a monitor, the most important things you need to consider are resolution, type of screen, and size.

More and more content has been released in 4K resolution recently, so a 4K monitor could be nice, but they tend to still cost a lot, so for most users, I would recommend a cheaper 1080p display.

When it comes to the types of screens available on the market it can get quite confusing, but I’m here to help sort things out.

Mouse and keyboard

With a computer mouse, it’s not too much discussion here. If it’s for casual use, go for a wireless, optical, or Bluetooth one. They come in many different shapes, so it’s best to visit a computer store and feel one in your hand before purchasing. Don’t choose the cheapest one and you should be safe for a few years with it.

For gamers, it will most likely be a wired mouse since every tiny input lag will make a difference when playing something competitive. And I would definitely not go for a cheap mouse for gaming. But that is a topic for a separate article.

Now about keyboards. Here you have quite a few choices too. The biggest choice would be a mechanical vs membrane keyboard.

a computer keyboard sitting on top of a desk

Mechanical keyboards are a bit taller than membrane ones. Each key has its own mechanism, which makes these keyboards last way longer than their membrane counterparts. And it’s important to know they tend to be louder with a distinctive clicking sound on each key.

They are tough, but will most probably serve a gamer best. Personally, I like them and would use them for my writing if I wasn’t working on a laptop.

For most people, I recommend a regular membrane keyboard, that will still most likely serve you for years. It will be smaller, quieter, and lighter than a mechanical one. Perfect for the majority of users. Just remember to keep the price in mind and go for a decently priced model ensuring happy and long-term usage.

Speakers

If you went for a laptop you can most likely skip this part. Unless you’d like to have even better speakers for your laptop.

For desktop users, there is the same argument sometimes, since many monitors on the market come with built-in speakers. But not all of them. Not even most of them. Keep that in mind.

So if you decided to get some external speakers there are a few choices.

A typical small two-speaker setup could do nicely if you don’t look for a crazy loud and bass-filled sound. These will do their job nicely and won’t cost an arm and a leg.

black corded gaming computer keyboard and flat screen monitor

For a bit more demanding people there’s an option for a system with a subwoofer and speakers. It will offer a nicer, deeper sound, which could do nicely for gaming, watching movies, or listening to some music. But it will take a bit more space with its subwoofer.

Lastly a soundbar. A type of speaker you probably know from some TV setups. These offer a nice balance between size and quality. And tend to look more stylish than other setups.

As always it goes down to preference and cost.

Desktop computers vs laptops

If you were to decide on a desktop computer you are tied to your desk, but it comes with a few perks.

Desktop computers usually have much better heat dissipation than laptops, so they won’t overheat easily, giving you better performance.

Other than that you can get more screen real estate, and some nice sounding speakers if that’s what you want.

Plus it’s crucial to say that usually, PC computers will cost less than a laptop even with the need to buy peripherals for them.

a laptop computer sitting on top of a white table

With a laptop on the other hand you are free to do all your work from any place. It gives the freedom frequent travelers look for, but at a price.

Laptops are very convenient, but you might not be satisfied with the screen size or the fact that the battery charge can be a limiting factor.

They give you a lot of freedom in choosing where you can use them but can be limiting. Some models might get quite hot when performing demanding tasks. And with the demand for performance, the battery charge can go down quickly too.

So, a PC will give you good performance and usually a lower cost. Laptops will give you the freedom to use it everywhere you want.

PC or Mac?

This is a big decision to make if you are wondering which manufacturer to choose.

Prices and quality

Apple computers or Macs can cost quite a lot. They can even get very expensive, depending on the performance you are looking for. With their prices comes great build quality and, in my opinion, longer life with satisfying performance. But you are a bit limited with Apple. There are not so many models to choose from and they all start with a steep cost.

Windows computers give you way more freedom in choosing a manufacturer and the amount of money you’re willing to spend. When deciding on a Windows machine you basically pay as much as you want, because you can buy them for as little as a few hundred US dollars. The quality will vary, depending on the price and producer. You can get a quality computer if you pay more, but you don’t have to, and I like to have options.

Operating system

Apple computers run Mac operating system, which is a simple and straightforward system. It is exclusive to Apple computers. When buying a Mac, you set the system up in minutes and it is a very simple process. People with less experience with computers will be better off with this system if you ask me. It is not much different than a Windows system, but it is a bit simpler. That also means it’s not as versatile as its counterpart. For example, the customization feels more limited than on a Windows device.

Apple’s system is less vulnerable to viruses and malware attacks than Microsoft’s operating system. Many people claim it is much more secure than the competition. Personally, I used both systems and had fewer problems with Apple computers.

Apple’s so called ecosystem is also worth mentioning here. If you have other Apple devices, like an iPhone or an iPad, they work really well together. You can use an iPad as an additional monitor for a Mac, and iPhone as a webcam, or answer a phone call on your computer and more.

Windows is an operating system belonging to Microsoft. They also make their own devices, like Apple, but most users have their Windows system installed on a different producer’s computers. That’s where you see the advantage over Apple. Any PC other than a Mac can run a Windows system, so you have way more freedom in choosing your computer, like I said before.

Windows is a more open system. It lets you customize a lot of settings and visuals and makes computers feel really personal. Plus if you want to play some big games, Windows is a must. With that said, Apple offers an Arcade platform with some casual gaming experience, but it is paid extra.

It is less secure than Apple’s operating system because it has to run on so many computers, and that comes with some limitations. But you don’t need to worry. It is quite unlikely you will get into any major issues using one or the other system.

You need to buy the Windows system separately for your computer, but a lot of sellers offer computers with the system preinstalled for your convenience. Keep that in mind.