A lawyer for an $1,800 case typically wants a $2,500 retainer. The court charges $30 to $75. Service runs $0 to $50. Realistic total with a lawyer: over $3,000 to recover $1,800.
Without a lawyer, the same case costs the filing fee plus certified postage. That is the entire argument for small claims court: it is designed for you to represent yourself.
The right question is not “what does suing cost?” but “what does not suing cost?”.