check out this renovation series on curbed for high end renovation in ny right now. here's the part that may hold your answer:

"

Let's talk about costs. 

Katie: There's a different scope and different timing for every project.

Brent: It comes down to individual condition. Every house is unique, every client is unique, what you want to do with the property is unique, and no two projects are the same. And square footage drives cost. You can do a $200 per square foot renovation but is it going to look like what you see in a magazine? Maybe not."

Somewhere else they originally had said $300sf was closer (in 2014/2015) to a realistic budget. $400sf on up was into very high end.

That is great info. Thanks Gregory! Really appreciate it.

$300sf was closer (in 2014/2015) to a realistic budget. $400sf on up was into very high end.

^ cost has to be in the logistics…wonder, are the remodel trades in the mafia…oops, union?

Miles - that is what I call low-end pretending to be high-end - those ridiculously low numbers...

Try $1000 sqft, and even, yes, hold your breath - $10,000 sf.

I'm laughing like the minions.

Agree with the above. A typical residential high-end gut renovation here in Cincinnati costs about $300 per square foot. I'd double that figure for NYC, at minimum.

^ If something new or a redo runs $5,000/SF+ it has to be a least half that.

there a lot of factors that make things tick up in price fast.

for example you want to change out a few windows on a building over 14 floors (I think) you may need a site safety manager (plan), protection, add in all the paperwork, etc...the window may cost $5k, but to install it and get approvals is going to be like another $30k+

there's night use of elevator operators, union, overtime, prices...

at $10k a sf, its usually a specialty item, where like 5 guys in the world can do it, possibly made in another country, details that are so perfect you have to touch them, and 1:1 mock-ups that get ripped out after installed because the tile hue and sheen is wrong (think hotels on that one)

The highest bid (multiple sources) that I've gotten in the past couple of months was 700.

wood flooring can run you $100 sf. or more if it looks like something that would be in Versailles.  Traditional in NYC can be ridiculous.  Find a plasterer that knows his trade and is under 50....Modern is more affordable because old world techniques and skills don't apply.  I don't like traditional, but that's where it gets insane.

There's a faucet company that does custom, can run as much as a semester tuition for a sink faucet....solid gold door knobs are not out of the question. (not making any of this up)

hey - i'm just pointing to one architect's own statement. 

$350-$550 from experience. All depends on what "high-end" means to you. 

NYC from what I've seen from middle-high range (before going into the 100k faucets and solid gold door knobs): $1000/sf-$1500sf (installed cost) + 40~60% for soft cost.

1000/sf + to sky is the limit

Some years ago I met an arch who was doing a duplex penthouse apartment reno for some sheik's kid to live in while attending NYU. The budget was $40m.