I had to replace one on a high-mileage vehicle, it was a couple of years ago but cost less than $300 with installation. The shop just welded it in place.
But that’s where shops differ. To do it back to OEM state, it means replacing exhaust pipes. And the OEM cat will be triple the aftermarket converter.
One shop I went to refused to put in an aftermarket, saying it wouldn’t pass. They were wrong.
Will a cheaper converter last as long as OEM? Probably not, but unless you’re burning a lot of oil and it clogs, it should go for five years or more.
I bought an off brand replacement converter on eBay for my old pickup five years ago for 60 bucks. I just looked and the cheapest one I could find is over 200 now.
Let’s GO Brandon!