See http://www.citylimits.org/news/articles/4160/costs-and-benefits Excerpts: "In 2001 and 2002, [New York City] paid for both grass and artificial-turf fields at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The price per square foot was 60 cents for sod and compost compared with $7.90 for synthetic turf. The sod and compost for two grass fields went for $112,305, while the two artificial-turf fields cost $987,500. Even if the sod was replaced every three years—it's never been replaced—the savings [inherent in grass] on a constant-dollar basis would have been $370,585. The grass contract also included 62,000 extra square feet of sod, just shy of enough for a third soccer field. But these calculations assume the grass fields would be maintained, of course, and maintenance requires workers."