Diamond drills in some respect are not too expensive.
However the support of diamond drills can be expensive and requires a support team for consumables etc.
With flow through money it is always better to contract drilling versus doing it in-house.
The cost of drilling in NWT can be as high as $300.00/m drilled once moves, fuel and consumables are considered.
Drilling is never cheap but more cost effective than blasting pits and shafts.
A necessary evil.