Can you rank without "authority+content-based" backlinks and guest post backlinks?

..for medium to high competition keywords, and not only rank some specific articles, but the site as a whole. Meaning, if you do everything perfectly, including: on-site, social, UX, as well as build other types of backlinks which are more "available" and less expensive, and do this linkbuilding naturally. Or is it necessary to be ready to pay as well as network and "bother" with other people? How far can you go without that "extra mile"?