Cheapest map w/any decent information would be a delorme (retail $20), unless you wanted to go with a USGS quad (free download), although that would be a pain unless you stuck around the same area all the time. Plus download and print times, plus a compass (cheap is $10, decent $50, top-of-the-line Brunton surveying compass around $250 or so? It's been awhile since I used a good surveying compass so I have no idea how much they cost nowadays).
So a map and compass are cheaper how?
For the price of a decent compass, you can get high-end mapping software for your phone. Of course, you need to have power for it, and there's always the possibility it will break/get wet/etc. Of course, there's also a possibility your compass will break and your maps will get wet
Did I mention my particular hike was on lava flows and using a compass for accurate navigation was impossible? Glad I had a GPS because I would have been lost using a regular magnetic compass
I respect those that chose to navigate using a map & compass, more power to you. Having spent time doing geology surveying in Montana + my SAR work, I could easily navigate most places using M&C. That said, I'll gladly use a GPS when it's available
And I've ultimately chosen Backcountry Navigator on my phone as my app of choice.
