a caro prezzo

Literally, “at dear price”.

a caro prezzo

1. at a high price; dearly

   pagare a caro prezzo ― to pay (at) a high price

2. (figurative, by extension) involving great sacrifices; at a high price; at a price; dearly
   • 2021 July 3 (last accessed), “Romeo e Giulietta”, in Wikipedia‎, archived from the original on 20 July 2021:

     Mercuzio non conosce l'amore e solo l'amore tra Romeo e Giulietta, protetti da Venere, sarebbe poi riuscito, seppur a caro prezzo, a trascendere l'erotismo senza negarlo, sublimandolo in un sentimento più alto, perfetto nell'eternità, eterno come quest'opera che ha acquistato ormai un valore universale.

     Mercuzio does not know the love and only the love between Romeo and Juliet, protected by Venus, would have then been able, even if at a high price, to transcend eroticism without denying it, sublimating it in a higher sentiment, perfect in eternity, eternal like this work that has now gained a universal value.