A few years ago, while doing a physics lab for students in the university, we needed ice and liquid nitrogen. It was weird that is was easier to get some liquid nitrogen[1] than ice cubes[2]. IIRC we asked for the official price of liquid nitrogen, and it was similar to the price of soft drink like coke.

[1] Because it was used regularly in a few of the research labs. Just get a dewar flask that is not made of glass, and ask nicely.

[2] No refrigerator in the lab, the cafeteria didn't have any, most refrigerators had no ice cubes or a huge ice block where there use to be the ice cubes shelf.