It's pretty close all around. You have an initial cost with a straight in hones and strops but if you do your homework you only NEED a few not a whole platoon worth and if you figure that over decades it's pennies a day. The cost of top class new DE's is about what you would pay for new quality straights. Of course you could buy used on both fronts but with a straight then you be talking about more hones and other items and skills and all that. You don't have any of that with a used DE. Blades, even if you buy Feather are not that expensive. With either you can go crazy and it can become a hobby but that is more so with a straight.

The brushes and soaps of course are the same. Time with a straight or a DE? It depends on the straight. With some it takes about the same and with some it takes a little longer.

So, the real answer is it depends. If youare just a "shaver" it's about equal all around. But, if you become a hobbyist straight can get way more expensive.

Of course that's my opinion.