Is canning difficult, expensive and generally worth it?

The initial cost will get you, but after that it is well worth the time and satisfaction.. A good pressure cooker , large to do up to 7 qts of something at a time is just under 100$. Jars , depending on the sizes you all get 50-70$ . Jar rings , reusable and lids, non reusable is minimal. Salsa is easy if you grow your own tomatoes and peppers etc...We didn t do salsa but many qts of paste and spag sauce.. We also can bean ( green and yellow. Now that is easy. Apple pie filling and chunky apple sause is also easy, we bought apples in season and from an orchard so they were cheap. Probably a wash on cost the 1 st year, but you gain so much the years after.. GL