Climbing isn't that expensive if you stick to a gym - $150 for some good shoes is all you need to boulder.

Once you move outside, that's when you start to spend thousands of dollars on cams, quick draws, etc.

The context of that quote was alpine climbing.

FWIW though, the local gym here is $70/mo and a day pass isn't cheap either. I'd love to join, but that's just too much for me.

Yeah alpine climbing is what I was thinking about. That sport is too expensive for 19 year olds.