I would recommend you getting the middle-entry level one. Something like D5XXX for nikon or 700D for canon kind of level. As for which is better, the current trend goes, the technological improvements seem to be better for canon side. And if you want to do video, definitely canon then. But I think more importantly, you should choose the one that feels better in your hands. That is pretty much a matter of taste. I'm a nikon user by the way, and I have a D7100. At the end of the day, it's more a matter of buying into the system, not the camera body, cause it's the lens that really make the difference.

If you really are keen on learning photography, then you should consider investing just a little more so that you may have more room to grow without soon needing another gear upgrade. Cause if you just want a camera that can take nice pictures with ease, then DSLR isn't really for you. The mirrorless cameras that are being produced nowadays can really take awesome photos too. People usually stick with their camera bodies for quite a long while, whereas they keep purchasing better lenses. Just my two cents' worth.