Sure it is costly. I think I mentioned it in this thread somewhere, I was lucky enough to got hired by heli company first and then to complete my licence. While usualy it is the other way round, first the licence and then the job.
Unfortunately I ended up with licence and without full time pilot job 
Here in my small country there are not so many heli job oportunities. I gues in countries like USA, Canda, Rusia, France, UK, Brasil, Australia… the situation is much much beter.
As you pointed out, fixed wing training is also expensive.
With fixed wings I am actualy thinking about upgrading to comercial licence. Will see how many hours I will have to log and how much I will have to pay indeed but step by step. I am not in hury.
Fortunately with heli comercial I will have some hours reduced.