Gaming isn't the luxury hobby it once was, but it's still not cheap either. A lot of people aren't interested in the games they can play, just the cost of playing them.
That's fair enough too, with money not being something that everybody has spare. It's important to know how much things cost if you're going to invest in something new.
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So, if you're one of those people, then welcome to gaming, and you might want to know which of the consoles is the cheapest.
We've put together this list for you to look over and make an informed decision with.
How much is an Xbox One?
At first glance, the Microsoft offerings are the most expensive: the low-end Xbox One S starts at £269.99 on Amazon, while the high-end Xbox One X starts at £349.99 on Amazon.
That's not a small sum of money on either end, but Microsoft give a lot more value with their services than either Sony or Nintendo thanks to the Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass gives you access to a massive and ever-growing library of games to play, all for a fairly low monthly cost. So, while the initial expense is higher than the others, you never really have to buy a game if you don't want to.
READ MORE:How to fix common Xbox One issues
How much is a PS4?
A standard PS4 is £249 at Amazon, and the PS4 Pro is £349, which means it's cheaper to buy a PS4 than an Xbox One.
There is a wide array of excellent PlayStation exclusives to check out too, like the upcoming Last Of Us 2 and Ghost Of Tsushima. But there's no Xbox Game Pass equivalent, not really, so you'll have to buy games yourself.
Of course, with games like Bloodborne being a few years old at this point, they don't always have to cost much, but it's all worth considering.
READ MORE:How to fix common PS4 issues
How much is a Nintendo Switch?
Nintendo is offering the cheapest consoles, with the Switch Lite at £199 Amazon and the normal Switch should cost £299.
However, there are a few things to consider before buying one. First of all, you might not be able to, at least not for a good price. Scalpers have taken to buying up Switches and selling them on for an obnoxious profit, which makes them very hard to get a hold of.
You'll also unlikely to be able to find one in stock as a result of that scalping. On top of that, Nintendo Switch games tend to be a bit more expensive than the other consoles, which offsets the lower initial investment.
Really, when you weigh everything up... and after you've bought a few games... you'll probably end up spending a similar amount no matter which console you decide to buy.
READ MORE:Best Nintendo Switch controllers
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