Seriously, you can have a hell of a lot of fun with a $200 entry-level starting gun, man. Don't worry about having a cheap gun or motherfuckers trying to Bobby Big Dick on you over the internet. The guys I've seen who have the best time on the field are the guys just breaking into the hobby and enjoying all their entry-level gear can offer, who haven't yet had the time to become jaded tryhards.
Here's a page with Toronto Airsoft's $150-$200 models.
Here're their $200-$250 ones.
Not that they're all available or necessarily any good, but that should give you an idea of what you can get for a low price as a nice starter platform. And there's enough variety, too, in case you don't want to be Yet Another White Boy With An M4.
Get what you like, love it, and have fun!