I use a straight razor, I think the total cost for me was around $100 for the whole kit.
Got a vintage straight razor, basic leather strop, balsa wood pasted strop and styptic for around $50 from whippeddog.
The drug stores here sell Proraso so I'm using that with a Edwin Jager Badger Brush and a Alum Block, another $30 or so.
I then got a nicely sized ceramic bowl for a shave bowl from a local chinese houseware store for like $5.
Picked up some Feather Aftershave for about $10-$15.
Finally I used the Tsubaki Oil I use as a blade oil to keep the razor oiled and as a preshave oil.
Works well and I only need to pay money for more Proraso and maybe a honing every once in a while when the balsa wood strop doesn't cut it anymore.
Starting to feel the need to buy a better strop and razor though, hope it doesn't start the ball rolling, collecting straights is definately more expensive than just DEs.