I don't think that electric airplanes are necessarily cheaper to fly. Depending on the gear you get, you may end up spending more.

For example, I paid twice as much for lighter servos than a .40 glow trainer would use and more again for a lighter receiver. I also needed to buy two extra batteries and charger which was another $60. This is for a park flyer. If you want a big bird that flys electrically, then you're talking more. Then you need an Electronic Speed Control. Prices get even higher if the electronics are for a brushless motor setup (which you don't need, but is, apparently a great upgrade).

If you are building from a kit, the savings are few. The two electric park flyer kits I have were about $25 and $35. My .40 trainer kit was $45. The park flyer kits are a rip-off if you think in terms of price per pound.

Heed the wind warnings for Slow Flyers. Last windy day I took my Slow Stick out was not that much fun. It was like flying a kite for the amount of headway I made into the wind.

If you're learning alone, get a simulator to put you in the ball park about what it is like to fly (FMS is free), consider a Slow Stick as you can use standard RX and servos in it, with the intention of moving to a little faster e-trainer (which will likely need smaller servos and RX), or look for someone to help you learn on the glow powered aircraft right off the start.