Surcharge now also for small tiles?

We want to renovate our bathroom and have chosen 2.5cm mosaic tiles for the entire bathroom (walls + floor approx. 30m²).
The offer from the tiler has become significantly more expensive because of this.
"Because it requires cleaner work and more effort."
The laying alone increases by 1200,- and the preparation work by 2500,- - all plus VAT.
The preparation work also includes, among other things, machine costs, which have risen from 1000,- to 2500,-.

We cannot understand this, as we assumed that small tiles on mats are actually easier and faster to lay. It is even recommended to beginners who want to do it themselves - supposedly because it is easier.

You also constantly read that there are surcharges for large tiles, also "because it requires cleaner work... see above" and now also for small tiles?
Basically, we expect that work is ALWAYS done cleanly.

There is a suspicion that currently a surcharge is generally charged as soon as the size deviates from the one that no one wants to have laid anyway.

Question: Is the surcharge justified? If not, what would be acceptable?

The question is not the surcharge; but how much you have to pay in total.

Have you obtained comparative offers?

Bad 2.5cm mosaic tiles chosen (walls + floor approx. 30m²).

They are just large surfaces. Unevenness is quickly noticeable there.

It is now about 12K for a small bathroom. The tiles themselves cost about 70,- / m²

What does the tiler say?

Well, we also had mosaic tiles installed in some places (niches, etc.). The guys messed up and also had a lot of material waste because these mats do tear after all.

The installer said he prefers the large tiles much more and they go faster to work with. The small ones are slower, but the advantage here for the average consumer is that they can lay it themselves.

Well, he says the above mentioned. Effort etc. I just have the feeling that there is always an extra charge added. Large tiles, small tiles, no matter, extra charge. Simply because one can.

But of course, one can also see it differently. Then I would be interested to know whether the above mentioned figures or additional costs are justified.

Laying mosaic mats is not that simple, though. Especially with larger areas, you have to make sure that the straight grout lines remain within the mat. And, you also need quite a bit more grout.