I have two different kinds of bulbs at my place. I have the IKEA bulbs everyone is mentioning, which have a nice range of hues to them, but actually their connectivity has left something to be desired (sometimes they'd need to be reset). On the other side, I have tunable white 2700-6500k Sengled bulbs that come in a 4-pack. I actually bought 12 of them when I started with HA and I've been incredibly happy with them. Highly recommend if you can find them for the price I did, which was $37/4-pack. The only downside to them is that they are a little squarish on top and a bit heavier since they have a glass top (but you don't notice it when it's installed). They're a good brand to check out.

Edit: I can never reply to kbin posters and I see roofus' point but OP did want a cheaper option. I appreciate looking at the pros and cons but I will still say I'm happy with Sengled bulbs. Bulbs aren't the only zigbee devices to act as mesh e.g. plugs. Their bulbs might not act as repeaters but they're inexpensive, unlike Hue, and reliable, unlike IKEA. Do be sure to do a lil bit of your own research OP! You can always buy a couple and decide if you like them.