Just basic plastic tubing for a project in school. An inch in diameter is fine (big enough for a marble to go through), and I'd need a few feet (enough to make 5 loops + an initial hill).I can't find any info on prices online. I've only found heavy duty stuff which are hundreds of dollars.Can I buy this type of stuff for cheap (how much on average?) at some sort of hardware store?
Of course at a hardware store. Try Menards or Home Depot. Those places have stuff like that on a roll and will simply cut off the amount you need. Also try a farm type store if there are any in your area. like Mills Fleet Farm or Tractor Supply Company.
vinyl tubing is pretty cheap - I would imagine around a dollar a foot or less for that size