I think the biggest expense is probably the jars. True, you only have to buy them once - but that one time is pretty painful.

A dehydrator is nice, but I found myself using ours less and less every year. I just haven't been able to keep dried foods as long as canned foods. I personally think dried foods taste better, but I doubt there's any difference in nutritional value between dried and canned.

Onward and upward,
airforce