What’s the cheapest laser that cuts clear acrylic?

The cheapest reliable answer is the entry desktop CO2 class — clear and light acrylic transmit a diode’s 455nm beam, so no diode price fixes it. Value-brand 40–55W desktop CO2s are the floor for real acrylic cutting.

If your acrylic work is engraving only and your stock can be dark or opaque, a strong diode gets you surprisingly far. But cut product lines — signage, cake toppers, jewelry blanks — are a CO2 business.