Copper magnet wire and regular copper wire may look similar at first glance, but their prices are not directly comparable. As a result, copper magnet wire usually costs more per pound, per kilogram, or per meter than bare copper wire. It may be bare copper wire, tinned copper wire, stranded copper wire, building wire, hook-up wire, jewelry wire, or PVC-insulated wire. Why Magnet Wire Costs MoreCopper magnet wire carries a premium because it is a more engineered product. Bare copper wire is usually cheaper than copper magnet wire when compared by copper weight.