I am still new to the idea of creating paper models and have been contemplating the cost of getting started in building paper models.
I know building plastic models can be as little as the cost of the bare kit ( Snap Tite ) and glue without any paint.
I used to build first and paint later as a child due partly due to cost.
Paper models on the very basic level would be the cost of either purchasing the pre-printed kit or paying for printing a downloaded kit.
I just bought a wide carriage printer on sale for less than the cost of two current release mid range 1/35 th scale armor kits.
I don't intend to use the printer exclusively for printing kits so I may not be able to blame the cost of ink entirely on kits.
In any case, if I were to spend on just paper and factory ink then I would be adding nearly the cost paid for a printer upon buying the first four ink cartridges plus a few dollars for misc. card stock and some white glue .
Plastic kit paint, putty, masking tape, decals, photo etch and various tools can add up quickly as I have been finding out since returning to the hobby.
My hunch is that paper models may be popular around the world simply because they require fewer resources in the form of finishing accessory purchases even though more work is required to build the models.