Because HGTV is entertainment, not reality! And most flippers aren't worried about the long term.

There are lots of online resources about what you can expect to pay for kitchen cabinets: RTA, semi-custom, custom, etc. Wood species, inset/full overlay/partial overlay, plywood, finish - all of these affect cost.

If you are looking for inexpensive, decent quality, try IKEA. And there are what a well-loved former poster here call cheepchinesecrapola.

As in most things, however, you get what you pay for. You aren't going to get custom, inset quarter-sawn oak with all plywood boxes for cheap.

I came across your post regarding Procraft cabinets. Our builder is suggestions Procraft as well. What cabinet brand did you decide to go with?

I too wonder ...What did you end up going with?

The cost of good quality cabinets always remains higher than the cost of low quality cabinets. You get nothing in this world for free, or as a bonus, when having a limited budget. Limited budgets have to get creative with buying used, or building their own. Don't waste limited funds on cheepchinesecrapola that is not even cheap anymore. You cannot buy high quality anything for pennies on the dollar. That fiction is nothing but fiction. Period.