Tile floor install: DIY or hire a contractor?

[Natalya Murphy]

We have about 1,000 square feet of carpeted floor that we'd like to convert to tile.   I'm wondering if it's worth the crazy labor cost to pay someone to do the work, or if it's a project I could do myself.   From what I've read, the trickiest part is getting each tile level when you set it in place.   It looks like there are spacers available to ensure the tiles are placed correctly in relation to each other, and I'm not afraid of using a tile cutter for the edge pieces.   My question is really about how difficult it is to get each tile level.   Also, are there any other gotchas I should be aware of before I try to take this on as a DIY?