this depends on your baseline. what motor do YOU have to start with? my jdm 2.2vtec was 1200. after running this motor for under a year i took her down to build the 2.3vtec. since i had the 2.2 already i only needed the 2.3 crank and rods. add in the various other needed/wanted parts, services, machining, etc. i got my hands on a full shortblock for less than 200 under the pressure of time. price is dependent on your buyer skills of used/new parts. i've since taken hold of a longblock 2.3 for 250.

other than stroking you can build as drift has. ask him nicely for the prices he paid. another possibility is to change cam sprockets to p14 and see if that works. this im not sure of

also depending on your plans/needs/wants, you can build with a small number of specialty tools. one major requirement for a lasting build is a clean working environment and building technique. i have just under 15k miles on my build while many have not seen past 5k or less. the great number of failed 2.3vtecs, i believe, are fault of ill built motors, unclean technique, carelessness in driving, and what other possibilities there are to destroy a motor. of course with my current lucky streak now that i speak of this my motor will go down.
v