Are your listening levels healthy? Doing damage?

Industrial hygienist here, very versed in the OSHA standards.

1.  For a phone app, try the NIOSH app.  Clearly not as good as a top shelf sound meter, but one we use if we don't have our "good" equipment with us just to screen sound levels.  Phone quality obviously plays into this, and/or whether or not your phone's speaker is dirty and caked with dust and grime.

2.  85 dB is the level at which an employer is required to have a Hearing Conservation Program, monitor employees with baseline audiograms and provide hearing protection.  Hearing protection in a workplace setting MUST be worn at levels exceeding 85 dB as an 8-hour time-weighted average (which basically means, if your work environment is really loud, right around 85 dB (+/- 2 dB or so) for your entire work shift, you need to be wearing appropriate hearing protection.

In practical terms for home audio, you're probably not listening for 8+ hours at levels above 85 dB.  If you are, you're destroying your hearing.  Intermittent excursion above 85 dB won't destroy your hearing, but could still do damage.  So, glad to report that those who identified 85 dB as the magic number.........all get a blue star for the forehead (for those who remember that kind of grade school stuff).

Can you recommend one for about $200 Plus calibration which I view as essential.

Sorry for the delayed reply.  I hope you see this, emergingsoul.

I currently use a TSI/Quest Sound Examiner SE-402IS.  I have a Quest QC-10 calibrator for it.  My best suggestion is to get a sound meter/calibrator from the same manufacturer.  That way, you're ensured to get a calibrator specifically tailored to the configuration of your meter.  If you decide to go with a stand-alone calibrator, I'd stick with one manufactured by companies that specialize in analytical instrumentation.  If you don't need that level of accuracy, then any sound meter in the $100-$150 range should suit you.  You'll likely want one that fits both the 1/2" and 1" microphones most good sound meters have (one or the other).  Just make sure you know what size microphone your meter has.

If you're talking about phone calibration, as far as I know, the only way to do it is to compare it's reading with a true, calibrated sound meter.  Remember, phone apps are nothing more than rudimentary screening apps.  That said, 20-30 dB difference between apps seems like an awful big spread.  I'd be inclined to think that the NIOSH app has a better algorithm.  Here's a study on phone app accuracy, albeit a bit dated:  https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2014/04/09/sound-apps/

Luck.