If you don't need print outs in big numbers on a daily basis, or if you just need print outs of text and simple stuff, then you nned not buy expensive printers. Budget printers will do. The best budget printers are easy to maintain, especially the mono laser printers. The better ones also have nice to have featyres such as LCD display (useful during troubleshooting).

Regarding manufacturer claims of 3000 page prints, they mean pages with double spaced lines with no headers and footers, in total only 5% area is covered.

Moreover thrid party toner and drums can cut your cost of printing by 75%.

The best affordable printer: Brother HL-L2340DW (very cheap cost per page print cost)

The second best affordable printer: Brother HL-L2360DW (with an Ethernet port)

The third best affordable printer: Samsung Xpress SL-M2835DW (toner can be more expensive than the competition)

The best affordable printer with a scanner: Brother HL-L2380DW

The best affordable color printer: HP Envy 5530 Wireless All-in-One (cheap ink only because of HP instant subscription service)