Kitchen knives are as personal as hunting boots, packs and camo and have a wide range of costs.
I would look at fujiwara Fkh and FHM series, a petty and gyuto(chef knife) will do 99% of everything you ask it to do. The one series is stainless and the other carbon, I work as a chef and use the carbon knives on a daily basis. These knives run under $100 per knife and will last a lifetime with good care.
Victorinox is another good option. My boning knives are all victorinox, i think they are good knives for the money. the chef knives are thicker than the Japanese knives but still will do what you ask them to do. These run $15-$40 a piece and most people would be satisfied with what they do.
I would steer away from the European knife brands like wusthof or henkels, the victorinox uses the same steel and are 1/3 of the price. Iv owned 3-4000 dollars worth of kitchen knives trying what i like and what i dont like, My work kit is pretty much made up of victorinox and Fujiwara knives, there are days that i cut more with my knives than most people do in a year.