I'm guessing you're talking more about fake meats. I really only make inexpensive vegan stuff my self. Vegetable stew is just carrot, leek, potato and stock. Add salt, a tonne of pepper and eat with fresh bread and vegan butter. I don't know if there's anything nicer for cheaper that exists in the world.

Chili - tinned beans of various kinds. Curry - lentils or chickpeas although I use jackfruit often which I'll give you, is more expensive. Stir fry - Tofu which is more expensive than meat if you don't buy it in large quantities, but evens out if you just use less? Not the best consolation I know, but works.

Sometimes I just have baked apples ( cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and stevia/sugar) for dinner with some vegan yoghurt as I'm not a big fan of dinner + dessert, I go one or the other. But it's the same price as regular yoghurt around my parts. Although you can culture your own if you wanna save money.

This is why I've slipped in to near-veganism. I do still eat meat every now and again but when I do I go big with a steak or brisket, fried chicken ect. Tell a lie though, I do eat tinned Tuna at least once a week. Again I'm not actually aiming for veganism but easily more than half my meals don't have meat in them. I guess my rule is no unnecessary meat on top of no dairy.