Basic GFCIs are also around the same price in the US. The discussion in the article is about mandating that weirdo breakers also contain GFCI/AFCI components.

Basic GFCIs are also around the same price in the US. The discussion in the article is about mandating that weirdo breakers also contain GFCI/AFCI components. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers charge a lot more for the oddball parts. (My load center's vendor also seems to be particularly bad with the price gouging, but I didn't exactly choose it, so in that respect it's perfectly representative of what gets chosen for people.)