I work at Dusty Strings in Seattle. Our instruments start at $395 for a 12/11 (2.5 octaves). We just came out with an entry level 16/15 (3+ octaves) for $575. These are solid, good sounding instruments with plywood soundboards and backs. Solid wood costs a bit more, more range costs more, more chromatic notes cost more, bells and whistles cost more. Here's the blicky for Dusty Strings. Elderly, Lark, and a host of other music stores carry them as well.

Sorry for the somewhat commercial nature of this post, but it seemed to be what was being asked.

John Peekstok