Check
https://www.divetank.com/gear/. They have some sub-$1000 suits listed on the site, but the note on the top of the page says they also have unlisted specials which you have to call in for. Richard, the Dive Tank Guy, was very pleasant to deal with when we got one of the closeout D6 Pro suits for my wife.
There is also a user here, I Bob3, who used to sell Viking drysuits for something like $600. Don't know if he still does.
Don't forget that you will need to factor in undergarments. The less insulation your suit has, the more the undies must have. If you go Dive Tank, sometimes they have free or cheap fleece to go with the suit specials. That, with a wicking base layer, may be enough for your comfort level but you will just have to try it. I decided that I didn't like the 2-piece garments as they can pull apart around your waist... I tried this $75 Tilos 1-piece and love it so far.
http://www.divesports.com/mall/tilos_ws_L600drysuiundies.asp
I use this with a 4mm compressed neoprene drysuit in Seattle, lowest temp I tried so far was 46F, no problems at all. If I had a no-insulation "bag" suit it probably wouldn't be warm enough. Hey, some people dive with sweats on, so you can start cheap on the undies and see how it goes.
Oh, if you really hate cold, you may want to invest in a dry glove system. I find that even in 46F water, wet gloves are just fine. Dry gloves can be a pain to put on though you have more dexterity.
> Don't you also get wet...at least a little, in a dry suit?
If everything goes right, no, but you'll probably need some practice to get there. For example, the seal around your neck may not keep all the water out if you move your head around too enthusiastically. And the air dump valve could let water in if you don't put a little air the suit in to offset the squeeze of water pressure... or if you press it to release air when there isn't any in the suit, water's definitely coming in.
I'm still learning how to use my suit properly--it's EQUIPMENT, not just a garment--and I usually end up with a damp arm under my exhaust valve. On a bad day my feet might get wet. Even so--it's very comfortable, a couple cups of water is no big deal. The bottom line is that cold water is not a factor, I just don't even think about it. And that's great.
Good luck with whatever you decide.