$800 + tax (don't forget thats included in EU prices already) isn't exactly just "a couple hundred dollars" either. Stuff is more expensive, yes, sales tax is usually higher, but the example doesn't seem that extreme? Also depends a bit on how the exchange rate has wobbled right now.

And the RPi prices are through the roof everywhere. "Just get a Pi, they are cheap" is basically a pre-2020 sentiment.