Madman, painting cabinets is a 'you get what you pay for' task. It's like asking, what does a car cost? It depends.
It starts with your needs or expectations. And the expectations of a significant other if that applies here.
If you are looking for a quick job to make things a bit better, a painter for a day or two could possibly get it done. A rental property or a 'we're selling the house really soon' scenario may apply here.
But if you are looking for a really fine finish that WILL look better and last a long time, you could be triple or more that price. That would require the cabinets/doors/drawer fronts to be cleaned, doors taken off, sanded, filled if needed, primed, sanded, and at least two coats of the highest quality paint. (There are a few threads on this forum from about a year ago that details the process for a great finished product.)
Several years ago I had a friend of friend call me for an estimate to paint his kitchen cabinets (I would have been spraying on a white lacquer/conversion varnish). Large kitchen in their forever home. The guy almost passed out when I gave him the price, about $15k. He ended up brush painting it himself. Result was terrible...drips, inconsistent and wavy brush strokes, particles in the paint (didn't filter it), etc. Wife will probably not let him forget his money-saving decision.
