What hobbies cost to start and to go deep

Every hobby has two prices

Each hobby on this site carries two costs. The cost to start is what it takes to try it properly: a class, a court booking, a starter kit. Going deep is what a serious first year costs, including the big items you end up owning.

The two can be far apart. Hiking costs nothing to start and runs to $2k–10k once you buy boots, a pack, a tent and the trips to use them. Judge a hobby by both numbers.

Free to start

Writing, journaling, urban walking and cloud spotting cost nothing to start and stay close to nothing. Running, hiking, birding, photography and chess are also free to start, but they climb: shoes and races, optics, camera bodies and lenses, a coach.

If money is the main thing stopping you, start here and look at the second number before you buy anything.

Under $50 to start

This is where most hobbies begin. Badminton, basketball and swimming need a racket, a ball or a pool entry. Drawing, sketching and watercolour need paper and a small set of paint. Bouldering needs a day pass and rental shoes. Baking needs what is already in most kitchens.

$50–300 to start

Hobbies here usually start with a short course or a few lessons: pottery, guitar, woodworking, sewing, violin, skiing, surfing, camping. Much of that money pays for a teacher, studio time or rental gear rather than things you keep.

That is the price of trying it properly, so book the lessons before you buy anything of your own.

$300 and up to start

Only a few hobbies start this high. Piano, road cycling, ice hockey, motorcycling and PC building all need one large item or a full kit before you can do anything at all. Off-roading and car restoration start at $2k–10k because the vehicle is the hobby.

For these, look for a way in that costs less: renting, a club that lends gear, or a friend's setup. Buy once you know you will use it every week.

Where the cost climbs the most

Some hobbies are cheap to try and very expensive to take seriously. Golf, sailing, figure skating and ballroom dancing all start under $50 and reach $10k–50k. Horse riding starts at $50–300 and can pass $50k, the highest range on this site, which it shares with RV travel and car restoration.

The climb rarely comes from the first purchase. It comes from coaching, membership fees, travel to venues, and eventually owning the boat, the horse or the vehicle. Before you commit to one of these, decide which stage you are aiming for.

How to use the two numbers

• Choose by the cost to start if you only want to try something.
• Check going deep before you buy anything that only makes sense if you stay.
• Run one hobby with a high going-deep cost at a time.

The guide on keeping the spending in check covers what to do once the money starts to add up.