5 Trading Cards To Buy For a $500 Budget (December 2025)
Five trading cards under $500 for December 2025 with prices, sales volume, and data-backed context for collectors.
5 Trading Cards Under $500 (December 2025)
Welcome to figoca’s December list of budget trading cards—five data-backed picks that keep total spend near $500 while focusing on recognizable sets and real sold volume. This tier fits collectors who want meaningful players and rookie anchors without jumping into ultra-high-end territory.
We prioritize true rookie or rookie-era cards, strong brands like Topps and Prizm, and markets with steady sales so you can enter and exit positions more easily. Think of this as a starting point for research, not a promise of profits—pair it with smart habits around condition checks and recent sold comps.
If you are newer to the hobby, start with 10 smart tips every collector should know and PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs SGC: Grading guide for 2025 before you buy.
TL;DR
- Budget first: Keep your total spend around $500 including shipping and tax.
- Demand & liquidity: Favor star names and current performers with 20+ recent sales.
- Risk-aware: Mix established legends with younger upside plays to balance risk.
- Sets that matter: Stick to core lines like Topps, Topps Chrome, and Prizm for stronger demand.
- Verification: Always confirm sold comps, card number, and condition before committing.
Not financial advice. Prices and availability change—always verify sold comps and card condition before you buy.
Best trading cards to buy for a $500 budget
Kobe Bryant
1996 Topps #138 PSA 9
Iconic base rookie of one of the most important players in NBA history, in a widely recognized flagship Topps set. Around 135 recent PSA 9 sales near $160 show strong liquidity and steady demand from both new and experienced collectors. Treat this as a long-term historical piece where eye appeal and clean surfaces matter more than short-term swings.
View on eBay
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
2024 Topps #HFA-20
Right-handed ace for the Los Angeles Dodgers coming off a 2.49 ERA season with 201 strikeouts and a World Series MVP. Roughly 129 recent sales around $104 and an ~88% 30-day move show how quickly performance and postseason narratives can reprice modern pitchers. This is a momentum-heavy but still accessible entry into a potential long-term star—be disciplined on price and condition given the recent run-up.
View on eBay
Drake Maye
2024 Topps #HFA-20 PSA 10
Young New England Patriots quarterback with 3,130 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions on ~71% completion in 2025. Around 75 recent PSA 10 sales near $102 and a strong 30-day trend reflect growing confidence that he could be a franchise QB. This is a classic best rookie card under $500 profile: graded, liquid, and tied to an important football market—but it still carries performance risk, so buy with a multi-season view.
View on eBay
Kon Knueppel
2025 Topps #HM-KK
Rookie-era Topps card of a 6′6″ guard/forward already showing he can score at the NBA level for the Charlotte Hornets. Roughly 87 recent sales around $84 and a triple-digit 30-day move point to rising hobby interest as his box scores trend upward. This is a higher-variance, speculative budget trading card—fine as a smaller allocation if you believe in his long-term scoring upside and are comfortable with volatility.
View on eBay
Jonathan Taylor
2020 Prizm #332 PSA 10
Prizm rookie of a Pro Bowl–level running back who posted one of the most dominant rushing seasons of the last decade with 1,811 yards and 20 total touchdowns in 2021. Around 23 recent PSA 10 sales near $46 and a sharp 30-day rebound suggest renewed confidence when he is healthy and producing. Running backs are inherently risky, so keep position size small, but this remains a recognizable, cheap trading card in a key football brand.
View on eBayTaken together, these five cards add up to roughly $496 at recent prices, giving you a full $500 budget lineup with a mix of all-time legends, current MLB and NFL stars, and one higher-upside NBA rookie profile.
How to Use This List
- Start with sold comps: Filter for the last 30–90 days on marketplaces and ignore single outlier results.
- Prioritize condition and eye appeal: Even within the same grade, centering, corners, and surfaces can change long-term outcomes.
- Decide your plan per card: Separate long-term holds (like Kobe) from shorter-term performance bets (like Yamamoto or Knueppel).
- Stay disciplined on price: Set a walk-away number for each card and be willing to wait for a cleaner copy.
- Think about grading carefully: For raw copies, make sure the potential graded value justifies fees before you submit.
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Related Guides
- 10 smart tips every collector should know
- PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs SGC: Grading guide for 2025
- Fake PSA slabs: a 60-second check
- On-card vs sticker autos: what collectors value
- Use the figoca browser extension to see comps on eBay
FAQ
What are the best rookie cards under $500 in December 2025?
For this budget tier, focus on clear rookie or rookie-era cards from core sets like Topps, Prizm, and Donruss/Optic, plus graded copies of quarterbacks and star guards. Cards like Drake Maye’s rookie and Kon Knueppel’s early Topps issues fit the "best rookie cards under $500" idea when you combine sold volume, brand strength, and realistic entry prices.
Are budget trading cards like these good for experienced collectors too?
Yes—experienced collectors often use budget trading cards to test new players, teams, or markets without committing thousands of dollars. The key is staying disciplined on condition and liquidity so you can adjust your portfolio as narratives change.
How do I avoid overpaying for cheap trading cards this month?
Always cross-check recent sold comps before you bid, and look at multiple completed sales rather than a single data point. Be patient, avoid chasing auctions that run away from your max price, and remember that there will always be more cards to buy in future months.
Nico Meyer
figoca Founder
Passionate about the intersection of sports cards and technology. Building figoca to make card collecting more accessible and data-driven for everyone.