I recommend picking up a Magic the Gathering starter deck. These decks come out with each new set and are designed to help players get their feet wet with the card game.
In addition, I suggest talking to an experienced player and asking that person to teach you the basics. You'll make a new friend (Magic is part social after all) and you'll have a hands-on experience to use in your learning journey.
This part's optional: try out Magic Online. Magic Online gives you a more technical understanding of the game since it does most of the gameplay functionality for you. Use it to understand game mechanics like phases, the stack, etc.
What do I need/how much should I pay for a good deck?
It depends on both the format you plan to play in and the current metagame of the format.
Format determines the cardpool available. If there are certain cards that are dominating the format (Baneslayer Angel for example), expect those cards to cost more.
Good decks that are popular are known as the metagame, and meta decks tends to cost more than a regular deck.
A good deck today costs between $100 dollars and $300 dollars depending on the format. Again, it looks like a lot, but this is going off known metagame choices.
Know this -- a popular deck isn't always the best deck--people use those decks because the results have given them confidence in their investment. So-called rogue decks can be cheaper than other decks, but their investment is riskier since they don't have as many proven results as metagame decks.
It's your call.
Where can I find the Magic the Gathering official rules?
Where can I search for a Magic the Gathering card?
I recommend the Gatherer for Magic the Gathering.
Should I buy packs or singles?
The chances for a complete playset of cards are slim in a card pack. Your best bet is to order cards directly from retailers so you can guarantee you have your playset.
Doesn't hurt to get a pack once or twice though, sometimes you get lucky...
Any question left unanswered?
Drop me a line. shadowsketched@gmail.com
