I have a verticle water smoker made by masterbuilt from cabelas. It cost me about 175 and is a good unit for a beginner. Easy to assemble and use. It runs off of propane so it is easy to adjust the temp.

Sams Club, bass pro, Gander Mtn and walmart. I bought a 70. steel charcoal smoker adn added an electric element to mine for a total of 110, it works ok. A friend of mine has smoked in a cardboard box in his garage using an single electric burner bought at walmart for 10.oo and added a digital thermastat for 5.00 and has put out some really great jerky from this high dollar . I had an uncle that built a 4 foot x 4 foot x 8 foot plyood wlk in smoker that he used for years and years. It depends on how much and how long you want to smoke. A bit of jerky and a brisket now and then a 50 charcoal smoker wil work.

GO to cabelas.com and look what theyy have.

I think you want to make smoked meat like bacon am I right? Most folks think you want to bar-be-que. If so stay away from big chief-they are POS. For a few dollars more you can get a masterbuilt electric smoker that does a good job and is much better than big chief. MB is solidly built, insulated, has much better racks and you can add chips without opening the door. Got mine on sale at Cabelas. The big Chief is flimsy, uninsulated, has to be opened to add chips and the burner quit after a few months use.
Go to Walmart and buy a good supply of thick sliced Walmart brand bacon. Smoke it 8 hours with apple chips for the best bacon you ever tasted. Just keep the thermostat set low so the bacon doesn't render. Use the fine cut apple chips that do not have bark in them. That IMO is the best smoker for the money bar none.

you have better temp control with propane than you do with most electric smokers.