Seagull (advantage hobby, horizon hobby), Black Horse Models (Hobby People, American Pioneer) and Phoenix Models (Tower Hobbies, Advantage Hobby) are all very low in cost and very nice quality planes. They tend to run on the heavier side, though not too bad. These are all made in Vietnam, possibly by the same manufacturer, though they are NOT the same planes (there is a Phoenix Decathlon and a Seagull Decathlon, and they are different, etc.)

You can get a trainer for about a hundred bucks, an advanced .40 aerobat for $120, and even a quarter scale plane for $250. Again, they run on the heavy side - the quarter scale planes are upwards of 12-13 lbs, but people seem to really love them and the way they fly. I had a few phoenix planes and was very happy with them for the price.