Yes, it can make sense to own both, but only if you need what each lens does differently. A macro lens is usually the more versatile choice because it can handle normal shooting and true close-up work, while a standard prime cannot do real macro on its own.

Where the non-macro prime still makes sense is when you want:

• a wider maximum aperture for more light
• shallower depth of field
• potentially faster autofocus

Macro lenses are designed differently: they’re optimized for close focus, flat-field reproduction, and maintaining image quality as focus distance decreases. That makes them excellent for macro and often very good as general-purpose short telephoto lenses too.

So if budget matters, buying just the macro lens is often the sensible option if you want macro capability. If you also need faster aperture or quicker AF for portraits, low light, or subject isolation, then owning both can be justified even at similar focal lengths.