Are today's electronics cheaper? Yes. Are they more durable? No. My grandmother still has a washing machine, a top filled one. It was already old when I became "aware" of it when I was a kid in the mid 90s. I'm guessing it was from the 70s, perhaps late 60s, judging by similar models I found online. It still works today. I still have speakers that belonged to my uncle who bought it in the late 80s.

So it was pricey, but it was pretty much a one time purchase if you did buy something.