cheapino VS fak

The cheapino is super cheap: https://github.com/tompi/cheapino

If you're looking for a 40s Ergo Split, then the Cheapino is really cheap: https://github.com/tompi/cheapino/ (though you have to source parts & PCB yourself + soldering required)

Is there a project similar to the cheapino with a similar goal of offering a DIY cost-effective monoblock 34/36 key keyboard?

inspired by the cheapino

Depending on how comfortable you are ordering PCBs yourself, the Cantor (https://github.com/diepala/cantor ) or the Cheapino (https://github.com/tompi/cheapino ) might be a good starting point for getting into split keyboards, both are diodeless, so you only need to solder the switches and use relatively cheap microcontrollers

If money is a big concern, you could look for cheaper style boards like this one designed specifically to be on the cheaper side: https://github.com/tompi/cheapino

Here is the link to the project: https://github.com/tompi/cheapino

For example.. I saw https://github.com/semickolon/fak/tree/main/ncl/examples/cheapis as an example of perhaps as low-budget as you can go.

https://github.com/semickolon/fak FAK is a keyboard firmware for the CH55x series of very cheap chips, with the purely functional programming power of Nickel. The project aims to make keyboards much cheaper and to make configuration more declarative and fun.