Keeping fit, meeting new people, having a laugh – it’s not hard to see why sport is one of the UK’s most enjoyed pastimes.

    Whether it’s a kickabout with your mates, cycling on the open roads or climbing a mountain – there is an almost endless list of sports out there to suit all tastes and abilities.

    However, whether buying kit and equipment or making regular payments, most sports come with some sort of financial commitment – and you will have to consider your finances before getting stuck into a new hobby; remembering to always budget.

    For the budget-conscious among you, here are how the UK’s 13 most favourite sports stack up against each other from a financial perspective.

    What sport is the most expensive?

    Golf is the costliest of the UK’s most played sports, according to a recent survey, costing players on average £22.80 a month to get a few rounds in.

    This is little surprise as the price of good-quality golf clubs and associated equipment can run into the thousands, while club membership does not come cheap either.

    If you want to sample different courses across the country, then travel costs have to be factored in too.

    If you’re lucky, you might even have to think about buying a few bottles of champagne after a hole in one!

    Other sports where lots of equipment may be required, like cricket (£19.21) and martial arts (£18.71), also ranked highly for monthly costs.

    What sport is the cheapest?

    Football is often labelled as the UK’s most popular sport, as well as the most accessible – after all, you only need a ball and a patch of grass to play, right?

    Well, that may be the case, but organised amateur football is a little more sophisticated than that and the ‘beautiful game’ actually came in second behind golf in terms of costliness at £19.77 a month – have you seen the cost of some boots?!

    The cheapest, and most popular, sport?

    Cycling.

    Getting out on two wheels has boomed in popularity in recent years thanks to the success of Team GB’s cyclists in the Olympics and the Tour de France’s visit to British shores in 2014.

    It costs just £14.69 a month – if you’re able to pay for your bike and equipment upfront, it might even cost nothing after that.

    Joining cycling in the more affordable range of the scale is athletics (£15.25) and volleyball (£16.28) – two sports where less equipment is generally needed, although finding a club or facility to join will likely be required.