Unless you are buying for aluminum or heavy steel, any MIG can work. I have a Miller 210 with spoolgun, two types of gas, and a spoolgun. The biggest difference in MIG welders is duty cycle or how long they will run without shutting off and raw power. The more powerful MIGs are 220 machines.
To start out and to weld steel, I’d go with a 110 machine. You can either go with gas for more money and less spatter or simply buy a cheap fluxcore model. Really cheap simple, and will do most of what you’d want. For that type of cheap machine, I’d probably consider a Harbor Freight model on sale for right at $100. The better machines of Hobart, Miller, Lincoln, etc in the same type will be $500-1000.
Like I said though, I bought once and cried once. I did have to add a 220 outlet at each place I lived. I don’t regret the purchase since I weld a bit of aluminum, but it’s more than a starter system. A setup like mine is closer to $1500 with even my Miller autodarkening Helmet being a lot more than a standard helmet.
