Some of the pricing depends on the use. Around Chicago, you can get a point-to-point T1 (within the Metro area) for $100-300. But that's a point-to-point, circuit only (no hardware) ...
If you are talking a T1 (direct or frame) to the Internet, then the price goes up, but I believe it still can be had for under $500 (with standard SLAs).
A guy I used to work with moved up to an area without DSL, Cable, or decent wireless. He got together with the neighborhood association and they all chip in for a T1 to his house, then he distributes to the neighborhood over 802.11 wireless (because he was "a network guy").
Much of the price depends on the area, the infrastructure, and the utilization.
FWIW
Scott