I've done a ton of research on plasma cutters over the past year or two. The best you can get is a Hypertherm, but their price reflects that as well. I've heard good things about the Eastwood plasma cutters, but I don't have any experience with that company. I've looked at the Everlast plasma cutters, but I've had to replace two separate circuit boards on my Everlast MIG welder in the 2.5 years I've had it so I don't think I would recommend them as far as durability. They have always sent out a new circuit board without much of a hassle on my end, but still it's really annoying if you don't have a backup and are in the middle of a project.

If you look on Ebay, there are quite a few Chinese models for cheap (Lotos brand is the most common I've seen). Saw a few Youtube reviews on them, they seem to cut decent enough, but they probably don't last for years and years. From what I've read, the main advantages of the more expensive plasma cutters, like the Hypertherm, are that the consumables last a lot longer, they're a bit easier to use, they cut a bit faster, and have more capability to do things like plasma gouging or piercing the center of a plate. But if you're just using it every once in a while, the more expensive brands probably wouldn't be worth the extra money. On the other hand though, the Hypertherm machines do hold their value very well, much like Lincoln and Miller welders, so maybe it would be worth it to get one of them.