A new heater core costs between $50.00 to $200.00 depending on make and model of vehicle.
So if you know how to replace the heater core you can save some money. However replacing a heater core is usually a labor intensive and time consuming job and requires removing the dash on most vehicles to get to the heater core.
If you're unsure on how to replace the heater core then it's best to just let a shop do the job.
Replacing a heater core in a vehicle can cost between $500.00 to $900.00 for parts and labor and to me it's well worth the cost of paying a shop to do the job.
Replacing a heater core is expensive but you shouldn't have to replace the heater core that often.