I agree that a rider's choice of shorts is going to be as individual as as that person's choice of saddle. Human beings vary widely in their shapes, measurements, likes and dislikes in tightness and looseness of clothing, etc.

The OP's request was for recommendations on shorts under $50. On sale, PI Quest shorts cost less than that. The Podium shorts' regular price is $40.

I have no doubt that more expensive clothing is likely to use more expensive materials and perhaps more expensive manufacturing methods, though that's not always the case. They may or may not be more durable depending on the designer's or manufacturer's choices..

But there's little relation between cost and fit. Clothing that doesn't fit isn't all that useful ... and shorts that fit well are likely to last longer than shorts with the same cost structure that don't fit.