What is better than Bose but costs less?

Bose is a marketing company. Through advertising they convince the inexperienced that theirs is the only quality product out there. Don't believe it. Read this forum, get some listening experience via local audio dealers or hifi clubs (if there's one in your area), and you'll have no trouble finding better sounding products both new and used.

What is better than Bose but costs less?

A colonoscopy.

Possibly an AM radio.

Making an assumption based off your post, are you really looking for the simplicity of a HTIB (home theater in a box)?

If so there are many options that beat the Bose at their respective price points, here are 2 easy picks.
Onkyo HT-S907
Denon S-301

If you are looking for computer speakers the Bose Companion 5 are very nice, I use them myself. No need for a sound card. Just plug them in to a USB port and for a no nonsense experience with a 3 piece setup they are very nice.

If you are looking for speakers for a home theater and have other components then matching speakers to components make a difference. So more info is needed, but there are many options better then Bose.

It is all a matter of how important sound is to you.

Your here, so that is a good sign. If you are near a large town, you owe it to yourself to find a mid-fi store and audition several options. Many of the high-end stores will scare a new audiophile to death with some of the prices. (build yourself up to that) But it is a shame how many people think Best Buy and Circuit City are the end all of A/V gear. Just take one step up and for just a bit more money you can often get far better equipment.

If all that seems like to much effort, then just google for "best speakers" for your application and good luck....

Assuming you're not just asking to stir up the natives, as others have pointed out you need to define a price range and application.

Assuming you're willing to buy used, a simple, versatile, nice little system would be a Linn Classik for $800-900 and a pair of Dynaudio Audience 50 bookshelf speakers ($400-450). That would be roughly the cost of some Bose systems I've seen walking through Best Buy, and would sound much much better.