kits CAN be cheaper after you have done a couple and are well stocked with everything. you need a stockpile of tools, equipment, monokote, basically everything you are going to use. lots of kits do not come with hardware either, or at least minimal stuff, so you have to factor in those costs if you don't already have it.

to build a kit, you are going to need covering, flight hardware, various hand sanders, dremel clone (requirement in my book!), various hobby knives, good supply of at least two different speeds of CA, kicker, 30 minute and 5 minute epoxy, silicon adhesive, fiberglass cloth, white glue/probond, threadlock (blue), fuel tubing, pushrods (goldenrod), soldering iron, silicon adhesive, some spare balsa of various thickness and also spare dowels. I also like to have carbon fiber and kevlar thread on hand.

probably missing a couple, but that pretty much covers it.