depends on how good quality the kit is and how good the quality of the paint job is. you could get some cheap knock-off kit and pay 300 bucks for the whole thing, then pay 400 bucks for a paint job and it will probably look like crap. but if you want to do it right then get a good quality name brand kit. like bomex, ground designs 2000, wings west, c-west, veilside, buddy club... the list goes on and on. you've also got to look at the bodywork that you want to put into it before it gets painted. actual bodywork dramatically increases the cost of the work being done at the paint shop because the man hours get really crazy. i can tell you now that if you want your bodylines shaved it takes a lot of skill and patience. or something like modifying the kit to make it more original like filling in a hole or moving the lines around so its a bit different then any other kit around. then you've got to think about the different colors of paint and different brands of paint. it all plays a role in the final cost of the job. you could get a good paint job for $1000, or you could pay up to $6000. it all depends on what you want. but no matter what, make sure that its what you want. and it always works a little bit better for you if you're at a shop that does more custom work if you let the painter have a little bit of creative freedom with the project. they'll put a little more care into the work they do becuase they'll want it to look good too. either way...good luck.