Each individual cloth diaper does look expensive, but you save tons of money over the life of your child. I priced making my own vs. buying them, and it was much cheaper and better quality to simply buy. Look for sales, and buy them in bundles. It's worth it.
The pocket diapers like BumGenius and Fuzzibunz have inserts that go inside that wick moisture away from your baby's bottom. They're not made of just cotton or even hemp. They work great, and getting those materials, especially the snaps required for a one-size diaper (which means that fit babies approx. 7lb-35lb) make it cheaper to buy. You generally need just 24 one-size diapers for the entire time your child is in diapers. Compared to disposables or making your own sized diapers, that's incredibly cheap!
The diapers you purchase come with very specific washing instructions. You use hot water to sanitize, and usually use Clorox approx. 1x/month to help prevent odors.