If this is your entire budget you need to plan for accessories, fenders, rain gear, and perhaps a rack and panniers to carry more than a backpack or beg and keep the weight off your back.

Also nice would be a dynamo lighting system but the minimum there for an upgrade or aftermarket system is at least $200.00.

My wife's favourite bike of all time is her Breezer Uptown 8, it is regarded as one of the best off the peg commuter bicycles and has a list that is just under $900.00 for a bike that comes with pretty much everything. It proved itself to be up to many seasons of riding in the PNW and will now be seeing it's first Canadian winter.

I don't think any company does it better for delivering a complete commuter package.