Old vs new RX and lens ordering help

I'm 22, I have myopia and astigmatism, I wear glasses.

I've been going to one place for ages and getting my glasses at dirt cheap prices (<$75). I gather it's because the lenses have an index of 1.56.

I moved to another city last year and got my eyesight checked here yesterday. The shop is pushing me for 1.74 index lenses that cost like 10 times as much. The consultants justify it by saying my myopia and astigmatism are very high and the vendor would refuse to produce lower index lenses for my prescription. I've reached out to the old shop and they gave me an option to get a pair of 1.56 lenses for less than $17 or 1.67 index lenses with AR coating for $65. They don't mention anything about impossibility of production.

I'm concerned and confused - is the new shop upselling and lying or the does the old shop just don't care? Does index matter? Aside from my eyesight worsening, it looks like my axis switched places?

Attaching my RXs for reference. Appreciate any help.

12/14/2024:
R: sph -4.75 cyl -6.25 axis 175
L: sph -5.00 cyl -5.50 axis 3

02/20/2026:
R: sph -5.50 cyl -4.25 axis 3
L: sph -6.00 cyl -6.00 axis 173