If you're setting up a community garden on a shoestring budget, I totally get the struggle: you need benches that won't fall apart after one rainstorm, but you also don't want them to look like they were salvaged from a dumpster. The good news? You can find affordable urban benches that actually look decent.
After digging through a dozen options (and talking to a few garden coordinators), here's my honest take: The best bang for your buck right now is the VidaXL 47-inch Wooden Garden Bench, often priced around $120–$140 on Amazon or Walmart. It's made from fir wood with a natural finish, has a simple, clean slatted design that fits urban gardens nicely, and it's light enough to move around when you need to rearrange seating for a workshop or harvest party. It comes flat-packed (expect 20 minutes of assembly with a screwdriver), but the instructions are clear and the parts actually line up.
If that's still a bit pricey, try the Mainstays Blue Outdoor Steel Bench at Walmart for under $90. It's a basic metal frame with a powder-coated finish (rust-resistant to a point) and wooden slats on the seat and back. The design is minimalist and industrial, which works surprisingly well in a modern community garden. Just know that the steel will get hot in direct sun, so place it in partial shade.
Why not just use free pallets or cinder blocks? Look, I love a good DIY project, but for a public garden that gets daily use, you need something that won't splinter, tip over, or get covered in moss within six months. The cheap commercial benches I mentioned are actually built to handle weather and wear.
One pro tip: Spray any budget bench (especially wood) with a clear outdoor sealant or linseed oil before you install it. This triples the bench's life for about $12 and keeps it looking "decent" for years, not weeks.
Also, check local Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for used "public park-style benches" made of recycled plastic or fiberglass. These are often being cleared out by municipalities and can be found for $50–$80. They're ugly-chic at best, but they last forever.
For a truly minimalist look on a tight budget, the IKEA ÄPPLARÖ wooden bench (unguided assembly, $89) is another solid contender. It's untreated acacia, so it will weather to a silver-gray patina naturally. It’s not designed for heavy public abuse, but for a small garden with occasional use, it works and looks great.
In short: the cheapest decent urban bench for a community garden is the VidaXL wooden slat bench (around $130). Second place goes to the Mainstays steel/wood bench (under $90). Both look presentable, hold up reasonably well, and won't embarrass you when the neighbors walk by.