R.200 D

This is simply a brutally efficient medium-heavy lift rocket. 20t to orbit for, in total, $7.28m. And that's pretty good.

That includes career mode launch cost, and recovery.

That's in career mode with full tech tree and all the recovery bonuses.

My own R.225 Gnome-Goblin (that only costs $4.8m) looks like the bargain of the century, but ultimately costs more than this because it's not recoverable. It doesn't come down near land, and gnome engines aren't worth it.

So there's your benchmark. $7.28 million to put 20t in orbit, including launch costs, with 1.68km/s delta-v remaining in the upper stage. It can take that 20t to a high orbit.

There's no parachute or landing legs. Once you circularise, manually swap back to the booster and lock prograde. That's it. There's heat shielding on the interstage. Fly it straight into the water, it won't explode on contact. It's long and pointy.