We asked 15 people how much they spent on their Comic Con costumes - here's what they told us

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We asked 15 people how much they spent on their Comic Con costumes - here's what they told us

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Katie Warren/Business Insider

Jordana Gaines spent $147 on her Valkyrie cosplay.

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  • New York Comic Con kicked off this week at Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.
  • Many people dressed up as their favorite characters from comics, movies, TV shows, and video games.
  • We asked 15 people on the first day of the event how much money they spent on their costumes.
  • The cosplayers surveyed spent between $20 and $1,000.

Thousands of people converged on a New York City convention center on Thursday for the first day of New York Comic Con - and many of them donned elaborate costumes that they'd spent months and hundreds of dollars creating.

At Comic Con and similar events, these costumes are commonly called cosplays, a contraction of "costume play."

We asked 15 people about their cosplays - who they were portraying, how they put them together, and how much they cost.

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Here's what they told us.

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This group of friends traveled to New York Comic Con from Québec.

This group of friends traveled to New York Comic Con from Québec.

Mary Chretien, left, cosplayed as Starfire from DC. She said her costume took about eight hours to make and cost $50. Her shoulder and arm pieces are sporting gear, she said. "I just painted it black and put some bling bling on it," she said.

Mary Chretien, left, cosplayed as Starfire from DC. She said her costume took about eight hours to make and cost $50. Her shoulder and arm pieces are sporting gear, she said. "I just painted it black and put some bling bling on it," she said.
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Tommy Bergeron dressed as a character from the Monster Hunter World video game. He made the leather pieces and bought the rest, spending about $1,000 total.

Tommy Bergeron dressed as a character from the Monster Hunter World video game. He made the leather pieces and bought the rest, spending about $1,000 total.

Tommy's brother, Felix Bergeron, center, cosplayed as Red Hood from DC. The red plastic piece on his chest was printed from a 3D printer, and the rest of the costume cost about $100, he said.

Tommy's brother, Felix Bergeron, center, cosplayed as Red Hood from DC. The red plastic piece on his chest was printed from a 3D printer, and the rest of the costume cost about $100, he said.
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Sebastien Perreault, center, cosplayed as Arsenal from DC Comics. He said most of his costume was bought secondhand for about $100.

Sebastien Perreault, center, cosplayed as Arsenal from DC Comics. He said most of his costume was bought secondhand for about $100.

His plastic arm and boot attachments, however, were made from a 3D printer bought for about $500. Each piece took 30 hours to print and the plastic cost $30 per kilo, he said.

His plastic arm and boot attachments, however, were made from a 3D printer bought for about $500. Each piece took 30 hours to print and the plastic cost $30 per kilo, he said.
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Jordana Gaines came to Comic Con from Long Island dressed as Valkyrie from Marvel. She spent about $147 on her costume, she said.

Jordana Gaines came to Comic Con from Long Island dressed as Valkyrie from Marvel. She spent about $147 on her costume, she said.

She ordered the top, the cape, and the arm pieces on Amazon for $70. The boots cost $30 and the pants were $40. Her only other expense was a $7 eyeliner pen.

She ordered the top, the cape, and the arm pieces on Amazon for $70. The boots cost $30 and the pants were $40. Her only other expense was a $7 eyeliner pen.
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Melissa Campbell and her daughter, from Long Island, dressed up as Sailor Chibi Moon and Sailor Moon, respectively.

Melissa Campbell and her daughter, from Long Island, dressed up as Sailor Chibi Moon and Sailor Moon, respectively.

They ordered the costumes on Amazon for about $20 each.

They ordered the costumes on Amazon for about $20 each.
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Shayanne Beguilla, who lives in Harlem, cosplayed the Red Lantern. He ordered his costume online for $40.

Shayanne Beguilla, who lives in Harlem, cosplayed the Red Lantern. He ordered his costume online for $40.

The lantern, however, is a collectible. "This I had to fight for at the store," Beguilla said. "They had one left at Midtown Comics and I paid like $400."

The lantern, however, is a collectible. "This I had to fight for at the store," Beguilla said. "They had one left at Midtown Comics and I paid like $400."
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He got his boots from the Halloween Adventure Store near Union Square in New York City.

He got his boots from the Halloween Adventure Store near Union Square in New York City.

Beguilla's friend, Andres Delanuez, came to Comic Con from the Dominican Republic. His handmade cosplay of a Digimon called Myotismon cost almost $500, according to Beguilla, who answered for his friend because he said he didn't speak English very well.

Beguilla's friend, Andres Delanuez, came to Comic Con from the Dominican Republic. His handmade cosplay of a Digimon called Myotismon cost almost $500, according to Beguilla, who answered for his friend because he said he didn't speak English very well.
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Beguilla said his friend goes to Comic Con in Puerto Rico and other locations. "He does this professionally," he said.

Beguilla said his friend goes to Comic Con in Puerto Rico and other locations. "He does this professionally," he said.

Helen Testamark cosplayed Hela from Marvel Comics, who appeared in "Thor: Ragnarok." Testamark said she started her costume earlier this year and worked on it for months. Her cape and head piece were ordered online, but she made the rest of the costume.

Helen Testamark cosplayed Hela from Marvel Comics, who appeared in "Thor: Ragnarok." Testamark said she started her costume earlier this year and worked on it for months. Her cape and head piece were ordered online, but she made the rest of the costume.
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Testamark said she sewed the green patterns onto a black jumpsuit. The costume cost her about $300.

Testamark said she sewed the green patterns onto a black jumpsuit. The costume cost her about $300.

Jose Tirado cosplayed as Eddie Brock before he fully turned into Venom, and his son dressed as Carnage, both from Marvel Comics. Tirado said his own face paint was a last-minute addition to make his son feel more comfortable.

Jose Tirado cosplayed as Eddie Brock before he fully turned into Venom, and his son dressed as Carnage, both from Marvel Comics. Tirado said his own face paint was a last-minute addition to make his son feel more comfortable.
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Cristian's costume took three months to make and cost about $300, Tirado said. "This was a Morphsuit that we layered with puff paint," he said. "Those are foam teeth and a foam tongue with wire in the middle. That's a bicycle helmet."

Cristian's costume took three months to make and cost about $300, Tirado said. "This was a Morphsuit that we layered with puff paint," he said. "Those are foam teeth and a foam tongue with wire in the middle. That's a bicycle helmet."

"The idea is to show that he's inside and Carnage is taking over his body," Tirado said.

"The idea is to show that he's inside and Carnage is taking over his body," Tirado said.
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Aaron Thompson, cosplaying as Arnim Zola from Marvel, called his costume a "sculpture." He started working on his costume, which is made from materials including fabric, foam, and PVC pipes, at the beginning of the summer.

Aaron Thompson, cosplaying as Arnim Zola from Marvel, called his costume a "sculpture." He started working on his costume, which is made from materials including fabric, foam, and PVC pipes, at the beginning of the summer.

He said the whole thing cost him around $300.

He said the whole thing cost him around $300.
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Barbie Chula, who is from Italy but lives in New York City, spent about $1,000 on her Predator cosplay. She started making it by hand five months ago, sourcing materials from Halloween stores, Michael's, and other craft stores.

Barbie Chula, who is from Italy but lives in New York City, spent about $1,000 on her Predator cosplay. She started making it by hand five months ago, sourcing materials from Halloween stores, Michael's, and other craft stores.

"I painted it, glued it together, made my chain and everything," Chula said, posing with a Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean cosplayer.

"I painted it, glued it together, made my chain and everything," Chula said, posing with a Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean cosplayer.
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Mariano Sansibieri, who came to Comic Con from Argentina, said he spent 15,000 pesos on his Jack Sparrow cosplay, or about $785.

Mariano Sansibieri, who came to Comic Con from Argentina, said he spent 15,000 pesos on his Jack Sparrow cosplay, or about $785.

Nick Fox said his Captain America costume came from a company in Pakistan that makes it exactly how it is in the movie.

Nick Fox said his Captain America costume came from a company in Pakistan that makes it exactly how it is in the movie.
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The shield and the helmet are from a Chinese brand, Fox said. In total, the cosplay cost him about $900.

The shield and the helmet are from a Chinese brand, Fox said. In total, the cosplay cost him about $900.

Alexis McCarthy, from New Jersey, cosplayed Harley Quinn from the 2018 film Batman Ninja. "The second I saw the movie I [knew I] had to do it," she said.

Alexis McCarthy, from New Jersey, cosplayed Harley Quinn from the 2018 film Batman Ninja. "The second I saw the movie I [knew I] had to do it," she said.
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McCarthy made the mallet by hand from styrofoam, plaster sheets, a large piece of rope, and other materials. Her costume cost $115 and the mallet supplies cost about $200, bringing the total to about $315.

McCarthy made the mallet by hand from styrofoam, plaster sheets, a large piece of rope, and other materials. Her costume cost $115 and the mallet supplies cost about $200, bringing the total to about $315.
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