I grow with only CFLs, but IMO price is not the reason to go CFL. My setup cost as much as I could have gotten into an HPS. Granted, I have an extreme CFL setup.
Again, IMO where you want to grow has much more to do with what you should buy, regardless of budget. I have no outside ventilation and wanted a very stealthy grow which would fit in my closet. However, this did not save me money!
I have two sets of lights (6500k and 2700k). My total cost in lighting is a little over $200. For this I could have went either way.
If you have the space and good ventilation go with HPS. It sounds to me like you can fit it in your budget. If you do not have a good enviro for HPS, I would be happy to post my suggestions for a low end CFL solution.