Migs,
All magic has a price but you do not always see the price that is paid. The cost is most likely balanced by the extremeness of the item requested. For one to live, another dies. Ask for riches, famine cause other to starve. Magic is energy, it is not created it is transformed so the more that would be required, the more that needs to come from somewhere else. So, in this case, the cost is relative. if some one starves because another requested a feast I would say the cost was very high. even with the best intentions the granting of even a simple desire can have devastating effects that were not intended.
Aramis Seablade