As a rule of thumb, you can get a clean but very old (40+ years), four-seat, single-engine air for around $60,000, depending on the make, model, and its exact conditions and features. The same plane, new off the assembly line, would be $500,000, or possibly much more.

Owning a plane is exceptionally expensive, often described by pilots as "a hole in the sky into which you throw money." Beyond the initial purchase price—which can range from $50,000 for a used Cessna to several million for a jet—the fixed and variable operating costs are the real burden. Owners must pay for hangar fees (ranging from $200 to $1,500 per month), specialized aviation insurance, and mandatory annual inspections which can cost between $2,000 and $5,000 even if nothing is broken. Variable costs include AvGas (Aviation Gasoline), which is significantly more expensive than automotive fuel, and "engine reserves"—the practice of saving $20–$50 for every hour flown to pay for a future engine overhaul, which can cost $30,000 or more. Furthermore, pilots must maintain their currency through regular training and medical exams. As a general rule of thumb, unless you are flying more than 100 hours per year, it is almost always more cost-effective to rent an aircraft from a local flight school or join a "Flying Club" where costs are shared among members.