Confused by the massive variations in website name pricing
Can someone explain why one domain costs $12 a year while another one with the same extension is listed for $5,000? I am trying to budget for my new startup but these price swings are making it impossible to plan ahead. I don't want to buy a "cheap" name only to find out the renewal price triples next year. Where can I find a clear list of standard rates so I can tell if I am being ripped off or if a price is actually fair for the current market?

The world of domain pricing can be a bit of a wild west due to the secondary market where people flip names for profit. To get a baseline of what you should be paying, I usually check the standard domain prices https://domainsavailable.now/ for the specific TLD I am interested in. This helps you distinguish between a regular registration and a "premium" name that someone is trying to resell. You should take a look at their price chart to see what the current going rates are.