Is Guild Wars 2 cost?

Excuse me, as an avid gamer and a person who's been considering diving into the world of MMORPGs, I've heard a lot about Guild Wars 2. However, before I make the decision to invest my time and money, I'd like to clarify a few things. Primarily, I'm wondering: is Guild Wars 2 cost-effective? I've heard it's a buy-to-play game, but does it require further investments in the form of expansions, DLCs, or monthly subscriptions? Additionally, how does the game's economy work, and are there any potential pitfalls or advantages for players in terms of microtransactions? I'd appreciate any insights you might have on these matters. Thank you.