my first clipless shoes were a pair of $100 giro shoes and shimano 105 road pedals, i still have and use both (though ive noticed now that the shoes are a size too big)

those pedals are a bit better than the 540 bottom of the line pedals and they should last you damn near forever. ive been happy with my giro shoes but tbh shoes are a personal fit thing like saddles and boxers vs briefs (boxer briefs, i know youre all wondering)

for my mtb i use issi pedals $70 or TIME ATAC (ebayed for basically nothing) and the mtb version of the same giro shoes