If you want to homebrew, you can buy all of the basic equipment
for about $150 (or even less if you want to cut some corners).
For $350 you can get just about one of everything that's not
extremely advanced.

It typically costs $20 to $40 (or even less for all-grain brewers)
for a five-gallon batch (9 six-packs),
depending on how thick your beer is.
If you want to make light-bodied American-style lager beer, 
it's cheaper to buy it.  If you enjoy beers with more body,
hoppy bitterness, and overall character, it's cheaper to brew 
your own (provided the beer comes out good!).

I will list what I'd recommend buying and how much it costs
in my William's Brewing catalog.
(No relation.  William's is the mail-order place where I
bought a lot of my equipment.  If you have a local homebrew
supply place, they should have similar stuff.
William's is in San Leandro, California at (800) 759-6025.)


BASIC BREWING EQUIPMENT
-----------------------
5-gallon pot to boil in:  $36 (you could spend $169 if you want--start cheaper)
long-handle plastic stirring spoon:  $4
fermentation tank--I use a food-grade plastic bucket with spout:  $20
priming tank and hoses--similar to above:  $13
2 airlocks and rubber stoppers: $4
hydrometer--measures specific gravity, plus jar for it: $10
thermometer: $8
bottler brush: $7
bottle sprayer: $13
sanitizing solution and rubber gloves: $7
bottle capper (get a good one): $30  (or go cheaper at $15)
about 54 bottles: free (have your friend help you)
about 8 hours of your time: free
-----------
TOTAL: $152

SOME MORE EQUIPMENT
-------------------
scale for malt and hops (pounds and ounces):  $26
wort chiller:  $30
mash tun (for advanced, all-grain brewing)--ice chest type: ~$70
another boiling pot:  $36
Pyrex flask for starting yeast--$6
------------------
GRAND TOTAL:  $319

INGREDIENTS FOR A TYPICAL 5-GALLON BATCH:
5 gallons yields about 9 six-packs of beer
------------------------------------------
6 pounds liquid malt extract: $15
4 ounces hops: $4
liquid yeast: $4  (dry yeast is only $1.50)
bottle caps:  $1
other stuff: $2
-----------
TOTAL:  $26 --> $3 per six-pack