Professional equipment, that is accurate and will last, usually runs close to $1,000....
Here's a link to a vacuum pump, it's not professional equipment by any means, but it will do the job for the average DIYer:
http://www.harborfreight.com/two-sta...ump-66466.html
Same goes for this manifold guage set; not the greatest piece of equipment, but it will do the job:
http://www.harborfreight.com/a-c-man...set-92649.html
If you take it to a shop to have it evacuated, you might as well have them charge it too.