Thanks, I couldn't find a usd dollar amount for the spectrum. I did know the c64 cost $1600 in today's prices (that's a good self-built pc today, not quite gamer specs but still decent)
The Spectrum wasn't released in the US. However, the semi-compatible Timex-Sinclair 2068 mentioned by others was. It was quite cheap, selling for under $200 in 1983 (about $570 today). However, it got very little support and software in the US and so it didn't do well.
c64 famously had its price cut very aggressively multiple time shortly after introduction, as commodore tried to drive texas instruments out of the home computing market (they succeeded, with atari and the rest of the industry becoming collateral damage). I believe not even a year later it cost half as much.
