All pets / Birds

What pet birds cost

4 pet birds priced the same way: what each costs to get, set up, the first year, a typical year and over its life. Cheapest to keep: Budgie, about $540 a year. Priciest: Green-cheeked conure, about $800. More are added every day.

• BudgieOne budgie (American parakeet) kept as a house pet$540 a year, $5,800 over its life
• LovebirdOne peach-faced (rosy-faced) lovebird kept as a house pet$580 a year, $8,200 over its life
• CockatielOne cockatiel kept as a house pet$650 a year, $11,100 over its life
• Green-cheeked conureOne green-cheeked conure kept as a house pet$800 a year, $17,100 over its life