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No more than a dedicated game of golf, actually, if you join a club. Soaring by itself is the least-expensive of the many types of general aviation; joining a club further spreads costs among members and can be very economical indeed. In addition, many clubs charge little or no fees for use of equipment and instruction (Sandhill included).
Once you strike out on your own things begin to change, though soaring is still well within the reach of most. Older model gliders can be purchased for less than $10,000, and insurance, maintenance, and storage costs are much lower than for a comparable powered aircraft. (Got a few more dollars to spend, you say? Then grab a Stemme S-10 — the world's most expensive motorized sailplane at a mere $340,000.)
