i think there is someone on the diY threads where they consolidated the ikea cabinets (plywood top and bottom to make the boxes sturdier for granite on top)
google for hi-end kitchen with ikea cabinets
also look for RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets: usually they are plywood with wood-fronts.
search a distributor in your area. or a small mom-and pop shop that just had a custom order cancelled...
also check craigslist in your area: maybe somebody just remodeled their kitchen...
...also you can get a few older furnitures, remodel them like a certain "lazy landlord" vanity and have some chic kitchen like no other.... :-P
Go with the RTA or "knock down" type cabinets that have plywood in places where the big box cabinets use MDF or particle board. They will be priced within the budget you have IMO. And they will be more durable than the MDF / particle board crap.
The RTA likely will have other nice features to boot: dove tail joints on drawers, soft close drawers, soft close hinge on cabinet doors.
but i also like some of Ikea's offererings However,Ikea build quality is suspect.
I was also thinking about stainless steel cabinets from Ikea and they would at least be durable
From what I've read and heard, Ikea's cabinets are pretty good quality for the money.
Sure, it would be better if their cabinets were plywood instead of particleboard. But, you'd have to spend a lot more money to get plywood kitchen cabinetry. At the prices you'll be looking at, all your choices will end up being particleboard.
@Steven Maduro, like a couple of people have suggested above, you could check out some RTA cabinets. We ordered some cabinets online for the first time from Lily Anne Cabinets for a rehab we're doing, and were very impressed with the price and quality of the components and finish. Soft close doors/drawers, dovetail joints, overall great quality.
Here is the link to their website if you're interested -