I think that the accuracy you are asking of a meter is an important thing to consider. But another thing to consider when trying to decide how much cash you are willing to part with is how often will you be using it?
Even at a given level of accuracy, some are more expensive and more durable than others. If you just want to make some relative measurements on a rare occasion, then you can get about anything, I suppose.
The more you use it, the better it should be, as it will be nothing more than a source of great frustration, otherwise. Silly things that should be a no-brainer can be bad, like poor jacks that cause you to have to wiggle the test leads to get a reading. You would not believe how poorly something can be made until you try to take a voltage reading with the $8 Radio Shack meter.
*I think if you will use the thing on one project, and probably never again, then find a friend with a nice one and borrow it, rather than buying a fancy-looking paperweight that you will quickly learn to hate.
*If you will use it on an occasional, but ongoing basis, then spend $35-$70 and get something with acceptable accuracy and durability.
*If you will use it on a regular basis, then pony up and spend $120 and up to get the features you need and a durable, accurate, repairable meter, and have it calibrated.
That's just my opinion on this, of course. I've owned (and do own) a lot of meters, and a poor one will frustrate you, and waste your time with erroneous readings and intermittent operation. I still have the big analog Simpson that my father used in the Air Force many years ago, and it is excellent for some applications, and is solid and reliable. But it's not for everything.
