CloudAtCost is not a good reference for cheap VPS, they were never cheap and that maintenance fee make it even worse. Their performance is abysmal too, but that could have changed since the time I used them.

If you want some good cheap VPS, go check on https://www.lowendtalk.com/ you will find plenty of good ones there. I would suggest to pay a bit more and go with BuyVM, at 20$ per year for their 512 MB offering, but you could definitely get some cheaper just as good somewhere else.

Have a look at some of the providers I mention below. I’m not sure who you’re referring to above, but as with all things, it’s a spectrum. Plenty of garbage at that price point, but also some gems.