I've had Howa rifles in .308, .243, 30-06, and 7Mag, and they have all been great shooters.
The price depends on the package. You can buy a new Howa 1500 .308 for around $510 (with cheap scope) and a new axiom stock for $165 online. I've seen other packages from $675 to $850.
The prices on Howa rifles have just recently gone up, and they're not easy to find in a store.