Problem about the price of some SMD components
Generally you'll find the cheaper prices are found where high volume cost-sensitive buyers congregate. Last I looked, for ordinary low voltage bypass capacitors such as 100nF that would be 0402 (inch). 0603 is not too bad too, and tends to come in smaller lots (usually 5K vs 10,000 in a reel for 0402).

I would suggest you learn to handle 0603 size at least. 

I expect that there may be a bifurcation of pricing such that 0201 (and smaller) and 0603 are eventually preferred. 

It's a bit complicated right now because of MLCC shortages, but that never lasts.