Is it worth paying the premium for 32GB of RAM over 16GB right now?

Yes, it’s worth it if you multitask heavily, run VMs, or do creative work. DDR4 32GB is about $55–80, just $25–40 more than 16GB — a no-brainer unless you’re on a strict budget for a basic office machine. DDR5 32GB is $90–130, a $40–60 gap that’s still reasonable for newer CPUs. Avoid buying a single 16GB stick now; buy the 32GB kit upfront to save money and hassle.