Electric Short Repair Cost

No, but I was very happy with http://www.leaderelectric.com/ -- so you might want to call them for an estimate. I doubt they'll do any patching, though.

That is way too high, I also doubt there is a short in the wire inside the wall. I would have another electrician take a look.

Ditto what Primer said. How old is the apartment/wiring? A short inside steel-jacketed electric lines is rare. Also, if this fellow knows what he is doing (is this realy an electrician?) if there is a short he should be able to figure out where on the run the short is and there should be no need to rewire both lights. (Frankly, I would be surprised in a one bedroom if the only thing on this fuse/breaker are two overhead lights. Is the breaker/fuse tripping/blowing?)

And, it does not take 2 1/2 days or anything like it to do this. If he means a couple hours to run the wire, and then all in gettng some guy to stop in a few times to patch holes, mud, sand, prime, and paint will entend over two days, well fine.

betcha, if there is a short at all, it will be found where the bx connects to one of the boxes which shouldnt require any fish holes--if there are fish holes try to repair yourself--get a can of solvent-based spackle and schmear, let dry, sand a couple of times --needs to dry at least several hours, likely requires at least two applications--why pay for someone to keep returning for 3 minutes of work??

even if the guy needs to pull a length of new bx, it should take around 2 hours--unlees the guy is sleeping in your apt while youre at work

I used Leader electric and was happy with them.
I would certainly at least use them for a proper diagnosis of the problem.
They are knowledgable though not the cheapest.
I don't remember the exact amounts as it was something like $180 for the first hour and $80 every hour after? But they know what they're doing and if they tell you you need what you described (I believe it's called a home run) then that's what you need.
What if you just need a new breaker!?
I cant see the wiring alone taking more than a day. That's $600 in labor.

Ahart's right though, I dont think they'll do any patching.

Thanks for everyone's comments. I called the electrician and he said that the $3k quote is to rewire on 4 of 6 breakers throughout the entire apartment. He said that the wiring leading from these 4 breakers to the fixtures, outlets, etc. was all very old and I'm better off in the long run to replace it all and that would mean the entire apartment would have new wiring (the wiring running from the last 2 breakers he said was newer and the fixtures and outlets worked fine). Now does $3k and 2 1/2 days seem reasonable along with the patch/spackle job for the 4 breakers and all the wiring to the fixtures, outlets? If not, what would you estimate?

If the electrician is upgrading 60% of the apartment, than he must bring the whole apartment up to the new NEC codes which include Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters, pressure sensitive outlets, 2-20Amp AFCI (arc Fault circuit interrupters) circuits in the kitchen. Plus an GFCI circuit in the kitchen so make sure that he is licensed in NYC and have everything that he is doing in writing including the DOB electrical inspection. If the 3K price includes all the outlets, switches and GFCI outlets thean it is fair. Note AFCI breakers are $50 a piece I surmise you need at least 6. as per the new code. Good Luck.