💰 How Much Do Pets Cost? All 50 Pets Compared

Monthly cost is one of the biggest things families forget to check before getting a pet. Here are rough monthly costs (food, bedding, and supplies) for every pet on this site, from the most budget-friendly 🐜 ant farm to the priciest 🐴 pony. These are ballpark figures — setup costs (cage, tank, gear) and vet visits are extra, and every pet's care guide has the details.

Pet	Monthly cost	Budget level	Lifespan
Ant Farm	$2–$8/mo covers all 10 · one habitat	Low cost	5–15 years (a queen-led colony)
Isopods	$3–$10/mo covers all 10 · one habitat	Low cost	1–3 years (the colony renews itself)
Land Snail	$5–$12/mo	Low cost	3–7 years
Stick Insect	$5–$15/mo	Low cost	1–2 years
Praying Mantis	$5–$15/mo	Low cost	under 1 year
Hissing Cockroach	$5–$15/mo	Low cost	2–5 years
Jumping Spider	$5–$15/mo	Low cost	1–2 years (females live longest)
Mouse	$8–$18/mo per animal · you need 2+	Low cost	1–2 years
Millipede	$8–$18/mo	Low cost	5–10 years
Betta Fish	$8–$20/mo	Low cost	2–4 years
Tarantula	$8–$20/mo	Low cost	5–20+ years (females live longest)
Shrimp & Snails	$8–$20/mo covers all 10 · one habitat	Low cost	1–3 years
Scorpion	$8–$20/mo	Low cost	5–8 years
Gerbil	$10–$20/mo per animal · you need 2+	Low cost	3–4 years
Hamster	$10–$25/mo	Low cost	2–3 years
Aquatic Frog	$10–$25/mo	Low cost	5–15 years (varies)
Hermit Crab	$10–$25/mo covers all 3 · one habitat	Low cost	20+ years (up to 40 with great care)
Newt & Salamander	$10–$25/mo	Low cost	10–15 years
Crayfish	$10–$25/mo	Low cost	2–5 years
Rat	$15–$30/mo per animal · you need 2+	Low cost	2–3 years
Fish	$10–$35/mo	Low cost	2–5 years (varies)
Anole	$15–$30/mo	Low cost	4–6 years
Parakeet & Small Birds	$15–$35/mo per animal · you need 2+	Low cost	5–30 years (budgies 5–10, bigger species longer)
Quail	$15–$35/mo per animal · you need 3+	Low cost	2–4 years
Degu	$15–$35/mo per animal · you need 2+	Medium cost	6–8 years
Goldfish	$15–$40/mo covers both · one habitat	Medium cost	10–20 years
Snake	$15–$40/mo	Medium cost	15–30 years
Gecko	$20–$40/mo	Medium cost	10–20 years
Chicken	$20–$45/mo per animal · you need 3+	Medium cost	5–10 years
Guinea Pig	$25–$45/mo per animal · you need 2+	Medium cost	5–7 years
Chinchilla	$25–$50/mo per animal · you need 2+	Medium cost	10–20 years
Hedgehog	$25–$50/mo	Medium cost	4–6 years
Blue-Tongued Skink	$25–$50/mo	Higher cost	15–20 years
Uromastyx	$25–$50/mo	Medium cost	15–25+ years
Axolotl	$25–$55/mo	Higher cost	10–15 years
Aquatic Turtle	$25–$55/mo	Higher cost	20–40 years
Duck	$25–$55/mo per animal · you need 3+	Medium cost	8–12 years
Rabbit	$30–$60/mo per animal · you need 2+	Medium cost	8–12 years
Bearded Dragon	$30–$60/mo	Higher cost	10–15 years
Sugar Glider	$30–$60/mo per animal · you need 2+	Medium cost	10–15 years
Chameleon	$30–$60/mo	Higher cost	5–8 years
Tortoise	$30–$60/mo	Higher cost	50–100+ years
Cat	$30–$80/mo	Medium cost	12–18 years
Ferret	$40–$80/mo per animal · you need 2+	Higher cost	6–10 years
Iguana	$40–$90/mo	Higher cost	15–20 years
Goat	$40–$90/mo per animal · you need 2+	Higher cost	12–15 years
Dog	$50–$120/mo	Higher cost	10–15 years
Parrots & Larger Birds	$50–$120/mo	Higher cost	30–70+ years
Mini Pig	$50–$120/mo per animal · you need 2+	Higher cost	12–20 years
Pony	$150–$400/mo per animal · you need 2+	Higher cost	25–35 years