Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 2
From: Bozeman
Bikes: 199? Landshark Roadshark, 198? Mondonico Diamond, 1987 Panasonic DX-5000, 1987 Bianchi Limited, Univega... Chrome..., 1989 Schwinn Woodlands, Motobecane USA Record, Raleigh Tokul 2
The difference is in the materials used to make them. The upper levels probably use stainless cables over galvanized ones, and the probably use nicer housings as well.
However, with that said, I always use the cheap ones because regardless of how nice they are, water still gets in there and I generally replace them every year anyway.