My go to bass is one of my cheapest, a Squier Paranormal at $429. I swapped out the pickups for Seymour Duncans and it’s a fantastic jazz bass. It doesn’t have to be expensive.
I would highly recommend the Paranormal, but by all means check out basses and ask questions
Another consideration…most don’t find their perfect forever bass on try 1, 2 or 3. It can be a journey. You will also find you start liking different characteristics as you mature your playing, so what was your forever bass may have just been your ‘forever for now’ bass.
Let the basses be your guide.
Some of us embrace the flowing basses (flowing in and out of the house) journey.
It took me a few tries and a lot of playing to find my forever tenor sax (I have two btw, with a 3rd on the list). Things flow over there too.