I use an Epson Workforce 30. In B&W it's pretty darn fast per min.

I get cartridges on Ebay or Amazon for cheap. 

Love my new Epson ET-2650, no cartridges needed! $225. at Costco. If $225. is not affordable to you, please come work on my team, I do work frequently in Manhattan.

Affordable printers are easy to find.  It IS the ink that's expensive.  Light useage is a plus.  A basic Canon or HP should do the job for you.  I buy mine at Costco.  Be sure they carry the ink for the model you chose.  That will be the least expensive way to go.  

Just pick up one at Costco. If you are a light user, the expensive ink will not be a major issue when the printer costs less than $100. 

I'd google it and read about it on-line. My printers are always for heavy duty usage.

Go with an HP laser. I have had mine for 12 years.

Good answers from Carol and Roy....

I'd with the cheapest laser printer. Inkjet cartridges seem to evaporate the minute you open the wrapper.

I have an older Epson Workforce 2650. It was inexpensive and the ink lasts a long time.

Costco puts out a nice HP product that is worth taking a look at

I recommend the HP 4-in-1 line that does color printing, scanning, faxing and copying. The last one we bought was prices under $200 and prints black and white at well over 25 pages a minute.

My Brother MFC-7460DN has been a good little printer for years. It is only B&W so will not work if you need color. 

There ae some great products out there but not manyin the real 'affodable area.

I bought the HP officejet PRO 6978 and I LOVE IT. Buy the hP ink wth XL on it, they last longer and well worth  it

I have been using a Brother MFC-J825DW for about 5 years. It is relatively fast, prints B&W or Color, will auto-duplex (which I love). It is one of the most economical inkjets around.  It is Multi-functional, print, scan, copy & fax. It also has wireless, network and USB connectivity.

It appears the newer model MFC-J985DW is the current replacement. I don't think you can go wrong.

I do not print much these days, since so much you can do with your smart devices. The fancy staff( presentation, stationary, etc.) I outsource. 

Check the HP's. Costco, Staples, Office Depot, etc are always having clearance sales. " Brother" also makes a decent printer.

You may find it's cheaper to buy a black and white printer at Walmart or Target for $50 and donate it when the ink runs out, or try and refill the ink at a station

Our HP 4-in-1 has served us well for years. I don't know what's out there now getting rave reviews though!

I've been happy with this but if you are looking for something that scans and copies this is not it.

Samsung ProXpress C2620DW Office Depot

Good luck 

:-Dave 

Avi Berger 

Costco:

HP Office Jet (all in one) Pro 6988 $89.99 regular $149

HP Office Jet 6978 (all in one) $99.99 regular $179

I agree, the Edson ET-2650 is hard to beat for light use. It's always been the cost of ink, not the cost of the machine. For work, I have an HP 4100. I've had it for 16 years, never broke down and is a work horse

Pete Xavier with X Group Real Estate Advocates nailed this one!

  Ink costs more than Dom Perignon champagne.  True fact!

         I have always used HP printer/copiers.

I have an HP Officejet Pro 8600 and it does everything I need. Not sure what you mean by afforable ink/toner. Prices online seem pretty reasonable. And there are some other good suggestions

GOod luck

Great reading older question  and have an answer.

Printers are becoming more and more affordable.  I have always purchased HP, they last but the cartridges are a bit pricey.

Look on ebay for ink.  I have a brother laser and a espon 580 ink jet.

i do mostly black. if you do too, a black only printer is much less expensive as your not replacing multiple cartridges

Avi Berger I have an HP LaserJet 1100. It is a work horse and have been using it for several years.

I have a Brother B&W laser printer w/copier and scanner.  MFC-7410W  Only thing I'd do differently is I'd have gotten the duplex mode on it.  Had a need for that once or twice years ago.  Although Kinkos is a good option for that too.

For replacement cartridges I get V4Ink on Amazon.  Can get a 2pack for a FRACTION of the cost of Brother cartridges.  5 star rating, never had an issue.

Define "affordable".  If you are running a business you will need to invest in equipment.  I have a high-end Brother Laser printer ... black and white.  For my smaller color jobs I have an Epson. I've invested in "cheap" ink and the results were the same.  I now only back brand manufactured ink cartridges. It is well worth the money. 

I have found my Brother MFC-J6920DW very reliable and efficient in ink usage.

I can get a Canon Imageclass for under $150. They are fast, print nice, have a scanner and auto document feeder, etc. Toner cartridges last for around 2,000 pages for less than $15 each. I have three of them in my office and they are simple work horses.

Buy the printer at the entrance to the Staples store. If you are a heavy user, spend the $$ for the warranty. Make sure it has a duplex document feeder.

Use premium paper and you will be stuffing mailboxes in no time.

HINT: join staples rewards plan.

Lots of opinions and options to choose from,. Define light use and check the store for deals on Friday.

I don’t know any printer cartridges that are cheap that’s where they make their money; I’ve always used HP

Dozens of All in One machines out there for around $60-80.  All work about the same, see what Walmart has on the shelf this week.

I have an HP 8600 Pro and an older HP color laser printer. The cartridges for the 8600 are fairly inexpensive but don't last very long unless you get the XL at a higher price. My HP color laser cartridges are more expensive but last longer so for light duty may be a better choice for you. HP printers are work horses, I still use my black and white laser in a pinch...it is over 10 years old and works like a champ.