A can of paint can completely transform the look of a room, and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Although the alkyd oil-based paints are more durable and can provide a slightly smoother coat, they are more difficult to work with and to clean up, and some states restrict the areas in which alkyd paints can be used. On the other hand, the improved chemistry of today's latex paints make them much more durable and easy to work with, and they can be cleaned up with water. First, it's the amount of work it takes to apply the paint. The higher grades of paint contain titanium, which gives the paint more coverage so it does a better job of concealing the surface it covers.
Cheaper paints contain little or no titanium, relying instead on clay.
As a result, it may take three or more coats of cheap paint to equal the coverage of one coat of high-quality paint. Another big difference is in durability. The more expensive paints are also more washable and offer greater scrub resistance. If you try washing dirt off a cheaper paint, you're likely to wash off some of the paint itself. Another benefit of higher-quality paints is their reduced tendency to spatter.