I just paid $47 for quiting in gold metallic thread on a 40x48 lap quilt. This included the cost of the thread and tax. She tried many different kinds of gold metallic before she found one that really worked without breaking, and this took a lot of her time.
This may sound like a lot to some, but like you, I don't have the time or the patience to tackle these on my regular sewing machine, even if this one is small. And until I have $10,000 for my own long arm machine, I can pay her to finish my quilts with her great work.
.0154 per square Inch for larger meandering designs
.0184 is her price if you want it "echo" quilted to outline an applique or print design. The prices go up from there.
I have seen much higher (like 25 cents a square inch!) You just have to shop around. I found my first long arm quilter through the ads in the back of McCalls Quilting mag.