Le coût matériel doit tenir compte de l’intégration des points d’accès à l’infrastructure du réseau et des cartes WLAN à tous les périphériques et ordinateurs sans fil. Le nombre de points d’accès dépend de la zone de couverture, du nombre d’utilisateurs et des types de services requis. La zone de couverture de chaque point d’accès s’étend à partir de celui-ci sur un rayon donné. Fréquemment, ces “zones” se recouvrent de manière à assurer une couverture complète. Le coût matériel dépend donc de facteurs tels que les performances et la couverture requises, ainsi que des débits proposés par le fournisseur.

En plus du coût d’équipement, il faudra aussi prendre en compte les frais d’installation et de maintenance, y compris les coûts induits par des produits de moindre qualité (coût de support par help desk, productivité des utilisateurs). Ces coûts peuvent éclipser totalement le coût initial de l’équipement. Des produits simples à installer, à utiliser et à administrer, qui se comportent conformément aux caractéristiques annoncées, peuvent représenter un investissement notablement supérieur. Les caractéristiques mentionnées plus haut, telles que l’alimentation sur Ethernet, la configuration globale des points d’accès et un ensemble complet d’outils d’administration, réduiront le coût global d’appartenance du LAN sans fil.
Les tarifs des Réseaux Locaux sans fils restent encore assez chers mais d'ici quelques années les prix devraient largement devenirs abordables.

  le coût  dépend du  type d'infrastructure  que vous souhaiterez installer voilà quelques diagrammes :

Wireless LAN Applications
Wireless Networking A relatively new topology is called 802.11b, also known as Wireless. This topology connects computers together without wires. Wireless networks are currently the fastest growing type of networks in the world. because users can set them up without running cables between their computers. They also allow a user with a laptop the freedom to roam about his house, or in some cases, their front or backyard, and still maintain access to the Internet and the rest of his network. This solution is more elegant than Ethernet when the computers are far apart from each other or from the cable modem.
Home Users wireless devices are an ideal, no-hassle, no-wires alternative for networking computers and Internet appliances in your home. They install easily, expand quickly and reduce the cost of setting up a wired network. With a small investment, you can enjoy the same advantages of a wireless LAN in your home that small businesses now a day rely on for their commerce.
	Small Business Using these devices to setup a wireless network can save small businesses time and money. Wireless equipments are easy to install, can augment your existing network and can reduce the costs, planning time and implementation time in expanding your wired network. With  wireless devices, small businesses can take advantage of a cost-effective and flexible network infrastructure solution.
Enterprise  Wireless devices allow enterprise networks to keep workers connected to the network, giving them real-time access to information whether they are at or away from their desks. Mobile workers become more productive because they can access information when they need it, whether they are using the Internet, doing email or accessing a corporate database.  With wireless devices, IT professionals can easily solve end-user's requests by providing immediate connectivity without having to install wiring as workers move within buildings or from building to building. wireless devices make dynamic moves, additions and changes within your network extremely easy to implement.
Out Door Solution
LAN-to- LAN bridging Wireless devices are an easy and cost effective way to connect separate networks in different locations. Point-to-point and point-to-multi-point connections allow users in different locations the opportunity to access the Internet, share files, and access network resources without wires. Building-to-Building or LAN-to-LAN wireless networks are being used by many industries serving diverse applications such as:  O Telco and Internet Service Providers O Corporate Enterprise O Education and Healthcare O Travel
Public Wireless Network
Mobile Hospital	Hot Spot
Public access Wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) now offer public wireless LAN access at thousands of indoor locations convenient to mobile workers, travelers, and consumers. wireless devices can be used to establish these public wireless LANs with great ease and simplicity. Typical locations are airports, airline clubs, conference centers, hotels, restaurants, hospital, and cafes. Using a laptop or PDA, users can wirelessly access the Internet, or log into a company intranet through a VPN (virtual private network) client.