I am also just starting...let me tell you what it cost me.
The crushed coral + some sand was around 65$
The Water (I dont have an RO unit) cost 99 cents a galon premixed with salt water.. that cost 55$ for all of it.
I got my Protein skimmer, Sump + pump + Lighting fixtures (2x Coral life 50/50 96 watts) for a total of 150$ (This was all used but in almost out of the box condition.)
Starting it slow, I have 30lbs of LR at 6$ A lb...
in all: 450$..
All of the other goodies I had from my previous african tank.
Debating on if I want to get a UV Sterilizer...
I got lucky with nabbing the gear i got for 150$, but it can be done with some luck and people skills
.
Hope this helps ya! Oh, and I'm a total noob at saltwater too
-Zuk
P.S. The only problem I am having is getting the thing to begin its cycle, I have had it for a week now, and nothing has changed in the water. (after about 3 tests)