I wouldn't have thought of Milan as excessively expensive at all - compared to Dublin it's probably a bit cheaper for eating out / getting around anyway ... Hotels seem to be quite pricey but other than that I'd not have thought it was too expensive.
Sure you can spend a lot of money in very expensive desinger shops if you want to there ... but you don't have to
Don't know if I'll be spending much in designer shops ....
I agree though, in comparison with Dublin I reckon I'm used to paying over the odds for things. I heard from some friends at the weekend that Milan is cheaper.