Is Postcrossing an expensive hobby?
Short answer: it can feel expensive, but in reality, it’s one of the most flexible and affordable hobbies you can have.
I’ve been in the world of Postcrossing for more than seventeen years. In that time, postage prices have changed so much that the old rates now feel almost unreal, like we used to send postcards for next to nothing. Over the years, I’ve also seen many Postcrossers leave the hobby because it simply became too expensive for them.
And honestly, it’s easy to see why. You need to buy the postcard, you need to pay for the stamp, and suddenly, the total doesn’t feel that small anymore. But is Postcrossing really expensive when you look at it next to other hobbies? Let’s take a closer look.
The Real Cost of Sending One Postcard
Let’s keep it simple.
- Postcard → ~€0.80–€1.00
- Postage → ~€2.00–€3.50 (depends on the country)
👉 Total per postcard: around €3–4.5 and more.
That’s it. Just a postcard and a stamp.
What Does That Mean Monthly?
This is where Postcrossing becomes surprisingly flexible.
Let’s say you send:
- 1 postcard per week → ~€16/month
- 2 postcards per week → ~€30/month
And that’s already a very active pace.
But you can also send:
- one postcard every two weeks
- or pause completely when life gets busy
That’s the beauty of it: you control the intensity.
Let’s Compare Sending Postcards to Other Habits
Because “expensive” is always relative.
€16/month is roughly:
- 3–4 coffees in a city café
- one discounted book (in many countries), you might not even finish
- a casual dinner you’ll forget next week
Meanwhile:
- surfing → equipment + lessons
- climbing → gear + gym
- motorcycling → don’t even start.
- culinary → books + lessons + ingredients
Even reading can easily cost more if you buy books regularly.
Postcrossing sits quietly in the category of low-cost, high-joy hobbies.
Why Postcrossing Feels Expensive (Even When It’s Not)
This part is important.
Postcrossing can feel expensive because:
- you pay for something you “send away”
- you don’t control what you receive back
- there’s a delay (you don’t get instant reward)
So your brain goes:
“Wait… I paid for this and now it’s gone?”
You’re paying for something you don’t keep.
And that goes against how we’re used to spending money.
What You Actually Get in Return
You don’t just get postcards.
You get:
- surprises from places you didn’t expect
- small pieces of someone else’s life
- handwriting, stamps, stories
- something physical in a very digital world
And yes, sometimes:
- weird cards
- blank profiles
- or messages like “Happy Postcrossing”
But somehow, it still works.
Can You Make Postcrossing and Snail Mailing Even Cheaper?
Yes.
Some easy ways:
- Send fewer cards per week
- Choose affordable postcards; simple designs often work best anyway (and honestly, those are the ones people tend to send the most.)
- avoid overbuying “just in case”
- build a small, practical stash instead of a huge collection
You don’t need 200 postcards at home to enjoy this.
(If you’ve ever wondered how many postcards you actually need (and not just hoard), I wrote about it here: how many postcards you actually need for Postcrossing)
A Small Note from My Side
Running a postcard shop, I see this all the time: people often think they need something perfect. They don’t.
Most of the time, what works is:
- simple
- clear
- easy to send
(If you’re curious, I wrote more about that here: What makes a “good” postcard)
So… Is Postcrossing Expensive?
Not really.
It’s:
- flexible
- adjustable
- and surprisingly affordable
Especially if you compare it to most hobbies.
And maybe more importantly: it’s a hobby you can shape around your life not the other way around
Final Thought
Everyone should have something small that belongs just to them.
Something slow. Something a bit pointless (in the best way). Something that makes the day feel different.
For some people, that’s running. For others, it’s cooking or reading.
For us, it’s sending little pieces of paper across the world. And somehow, that still feels worth it.
You may also like:
Why I’m Slowly Shifting from Single Postcards to Thoughtful Collections
The Window Diaries with Marluki: cozy postcard series
If you like the most popular postcard series, you’ll love this one too!
