Without doubt, there exist trees and plants trained as bonsai that are expensive. _In Japan it is not unusual to see trees at exhibition that are valued in the tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. _ But the quiet beauty of a bonsai can be appreciated on any budget, from trees grown from seed or cutting, or those purchased at the neighborhood garden center for just a few dollars. _
Many of the most appreciated bonsai were collected from the wild at no significant cost whatsoever. _When one purchases a trained bonsai, they are paying for the time and care invested in locating, training and maintaining a bonsai tree.
You can enjoy bonsai on any budget, and you can achieve impressive results, even on a small budget if you are willing to invest time in the hobby.