Vanilla beans appear to be about $6-7 each retail and $4-5 wholesale according to these random websites, despite there apparently being a bean shortage currently:
https://www.beanilla.com/vanilla/vanilla-beans
https://www.amadeusvanillabeans.com/store/one-stop.php
Additionally, Haagen-Dazs, a mass-market brand, offers ice cream with real vanilla:
https://www.haagendazs.us/products/2474/ice-cream/vanilla-be...
I sincerely doubt that it's "highly unlikely" that most people have tasted real vanilla in their lifetimes.