I feel for you, I do, but try buying hardwood in Tokyo Japan, it is really expensive!
I recently got turned on to a place that will sell me rough cut lumber, hardwood, and even though it is much cheaper that anything I've yet to find, it is still stupid expensive.
There is a stack of Beech I got, most are between 20 cm and 30cm wide, 34mm thick and about 6 foot tall. You are looking at $280 US in wood...
I hope you find a good source for wood, maybe you will have to go south of the boarder?
Cheers!