Here's how much RAM cost in 2020 vs. 2026

Even older DDR4 RAM is still much more expensive, and the used market isn't much of a refuge.

By Husain Parvez Nov. 2, 2026 8:45 am EST Jakub Krechowicz/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

In 2020, $94.99 could buy you a 32GB DDR4-3200 RAM kit. In October 2026, the cheapest comparable kit listed in a price tracker cost $198. It's even more expensive to build a newer DDR5 system, with 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory starting at $454. And that's before you've even bought a graphics card or dealt with rising SSD and HDD prices.