AdSense/AdCenter/Panama - How to track PPC Keyword Prices?

Ok, I apologize in advance for this beginner question. I have done a bit of searching and was unable to find a good answer.

I am new to PPC but have some experience with organic SEO. I have a list of keywords that I am targeting with my on-site optimization and would also like to initiate PPC campaigns with the big three SEs.

How do I find out what the avg. bid price is for these keywords. I need to do a preliminary analysis to identify the keywords that are worth going after (i.e. not too pricey)

Ideally I am looking for a tool where I can input keywords and get an estimate of the CPC, CPM, and some indication of the amount of competition for the keyword.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

-TW

Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this now that Yahoo! has gone "blind bid." They will only give you a range of pricing (example) to be in the top 1-5 you will pay between $1.05 -$3.15.

Sign up for a free trial of Wordtracker. It's free for 30 days, then $299 a year. They also have monthly pricing. They still retain a deal with Yahoo that allows you to see the top 5 bidder pricing broken down. You can then project by knowing AdWords will be more.

Hit me with any other questions. You may be a beginner, but you at least know not to worry about all the small engines.

seostew,

Thanks for the tip, I'm going to give WordTracker a shot this afternoon.

-Twit