Better case goods are plywood. Cabinet-grade plywood is much better (and lighter) than MDF or particle board! Most raised-panel ends on exposed uppers and lowers of nice, upscale Big Box Store cabinets are overlays attached to the plywood box. Nice for looks, but it is only a facade. I doubt you will find "solid-wood" cabinets but from a high-end cabinet shop. Perhaps the Amish, or a small independent, part-time cabinet maker (like ME!) who enjoys the challenge of the work, at the expense of maximum profit.
For the prices custom cabinet shops and big box stores charge for their cabinets, I dare say you can save some money IF you are looking at solid wood, raised-panel doors, and end panels. But, if you are looking at painted, faux-raised-panel MDF doors and casework, probably not--especially as cheaply as the Chinese can be made to work! Once you have made your own kitchen, or parts of it, you will gain a new attachment to it. After all, the kitchen is the center of activity in many homes, and you had a great part in providing a newer, nicer kitchen space.
If you hate your entire kitchen layout, eventually a total gut is the only way to go. But, if you are fairly satisfied with your layout, cabinet refacing is the least invasive of all solutions! Solid wood faceframes can be refinished by painting, sanding and staining, or veneering over them with same wood as the new doors. New raised panel doors and drawer fronts installed. If your drawers and shelves are flimsy, they can be replaced with something more livable too. Dovetailed drawers are fun to make and very sturdy. Crappy drawer slides can be replaced now with full-extension units which can be re-used later.
Besides cabinets, there is countertop to consider. A new surface adds as much as new cabinets do. A great upscale look can be achieved using granite or quartz squares rather than expensive slab. Or, ceramic mosaic tile can add a very nice look, with a hardwood edge to match the cabinetry.
Enough ceramic or travertine tile for a kitchen floor won't set you back much. Neither will tongue & groove hardwood. You can wait until last to do the floor!
A facelift would be a great learning experience to get you ready for that whole new kitchen later on. After making and installing your first kitchen-full of raised-panel doors, new drawers, and tiling a countertop, all that remains to tackle is casework next time around. The learning curve will be pretty flat.
Just food for thought! Best of Luck!