How does one find all the money to transition?  Looks like overall a cost of 100-200k no?

I think your number is high, and I am not sure what all you include in that, but it really depends where you live, whether you are covered by a national health insurance plan (like NHS in the UK), or if you have private insurance that picks up some of the costs.

If I were still on HRT, in my state (Calif), insurance providers are now required by law to cover some of the medication costs.

The only real answer that I've found is "It depends"... on the plus side, it's a process, and it doesn't happen all at once.  I've been reading on this a *lot*, so I'll break it down for you as best as I've been able to understand it.  All guestimates are in $ US.

The standard order of steps, from what I've read hear and heard from others, for a successful transition are as follows:

Counseling (may be covered by insurance, may be free (community clinic), may be $60-150/hr)
Hormone Replacement Therapy (may be covered by insurance, probably $2-300 for endocrynologist and quarterly blood tests, between $30 and $120/month for meds)
Electrolysis (only for MtF, weekly or biweekly appointments for a year or two at $50-150 each, depending on provider... alternatively if you have a lot of time and not much money, you can apparently do it yourself)

You may be able (or have to) stop there, depending on your financial and/or physical/emotional needs.

For FtM, looks like top surgery is under $10k most places.  MtF may not need/want top surgery, but implants are apparently less expensive (though not by much)

MtF may want facial reconstruction surgery.  The sky's the limit on cost here, although many CIS women have masculine features, so this is not normally necessary for passing.

FtM: Bottom surgery- the sky is the limit here, too, depending on what is done, but at least hysterectomies are fairly standard procedures and well documented.  Actual genital construction is where things get really pricey quick.

MtF: Bottom surgery- From what I've seen this costs anywhere from $13k to $30k for a reputable surgeon.\

The *good* news is that with health care reform in the US, some of these surgeries that are deemed medically necessary *may* be covered under insurance.  Some other countries offer these for free, but often people choose to pay out of pocket for top-notch surgeons.

Hope this helps!  There is a *lot* of information about this out there... remember, this is just the medical estimate... wardrobe, cosmetics, salon trips, etc are not included in these guestimates.

Good heavens, that sounds high! It depends, of course, on exactly what you want to do, and to some degree on things like cost of living, insurance, etc.

My personal estimate is that the total cost of transition for me (including $20K on GRS) came in somewhere under $30K so far. It would have been more without insurance, but I was lucky in that regard and it covered everything but bottom surgery itself. Laser was $1000, therapy was probably around $2000 all told and I'm done with that now; ongoing costs are endocrinologist is $100 every 3 to 6 months (3 months for the first year, 6 thereafter) and HRT is $50/month. Plus there were some incidental expenses in there, like name/documentation change and some extra medical tests.

My wife took care of all of the budgeting, though; I'm not good with money.

Yeah I could use a bit more work than what looks like most.   Also including time off work in that too.  Cost is by far the biggest limiting factor for me pursuing transitioning mtf.  Oop costs just seem insurmountable and I'm not really a fan of half measure.

That is certainly your prerogative.  Please bear in mind, though, that for some, transitioning is literally a life-or-death matter.  And views change over time... I started out on this journey denying I would ever have the money for transition.  I told myself I wasn't transgendered, that I didn't want it enough, that I would never be a convincing woman... as I've gotten older, I've become more and more aware that transitioning is essential to my happiness and possibly to my survival.  Certainly to my living as a fully functional participant in life.  And the older I get, the more important it becomes.  I had been hiding behind excuses when I would even let myself explore the idea that I might be transgendered.  And mostly I'd bury that kind of thinking before it could come to the surface.  If there is one thing I was excellent at, it was self-denial.

I want to have bottom surgery one day, but that may be several years down the road.  In the meantime, hormones, laser, and electrolysis (along with a lot of work on my voice and some decent "hair replacement systems" can get me to the point where I can be perceived by the majority people as the gender I am within.  Sex with the proper parts would be lovely, but it can wait; being a full participant in the world as my internal gender is far more important.

Additionally, every year testosterone is in a system, the changes caused by it get stronger and harder to conceal.  I really, *really* wish I could go back in time to my teens (heck, I'd settle for my twenties) and block the stuff before it shaped my face and wrists. 

I guess, basically, I urge you to listen to yourself and throw out money concerns.  A therapist can help with that.  If you are on this forum, there is likely a reason, and a gender therapist can help you make the right choice for *you*. 

However you proceed in life, I wish you happiness and contentment and joy. 

If you do not need to pass, transition is very cheap - just the cost of the female clothing and accessories. I know a few unemployed trans women. They don't take hormones, won't have surgery or hair removal, therapy, etc., but they live as women and consider themselves transitioned.