Depends what type of painting you want to do. If you’re after narrative illustration or decorative art, then watercolor and gouache are better options (especially acryla gouache, that is very common now among pro illustrators). If you’re after landscapes, portraits, or otherwise more classic subjects, then oils or acrylic are best. For abstract art, acrylic is best. Of course, you can do anything with anything, but some mediums require more work than others to make something look good, depending on the genre.
For acrylic, start with cheaper paints, and as you learn, you can move to better brands that are light fast. Consider acrylic paper in the beginning, if you find it cheaper than canvas in your area. Let me know if you have any questions.