I would say either look for a second-hand 8 yard kilt (which can be had at the price you are looking at), or go for a lower yardage kilt.

My own box pleated kilts are a bit higher than your stated price range, though you might want to consider that I only require 50% up front, and the balance is not due until the kilt is ready to be made, which with my current queue would be some months down the road.

Also, I have some on my specials page right now for $300. These would be made-to-measure, just like my standard kilts, they are just from tartan I happen to have excess of on hand.

We have some second-hand 8 yard kilts at the Scottish Tartans Museum right now:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/specials.htm
(just noticed, I need to update that page and add a couple....)

If you want to have your choice of tartan, take a look at the casual kilts, like McMurdo recommended at Burnetts & Struth. The STM also offers casual kilts, that begin at $340.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/kilts_casual.htm

Again, just a little more than your stated price range, but broken into two payments, it might be doable.

I have no problem recommending our casual kilts to someone on a budget, as they are made from the same high-quality Scottish wool tartans as our standard kilts are, same quality leather straps, etc. Only difference is that they have less material and are machine stitched. But using the same high quality cloth to make the kilt from really helps maintain the traditional look and feel of the kilt.