What a cockatiel really costs
A cockatiel costs $150–$400 to buy, and a proper cage, perches, toys and carrier add close to $400. Expect about $650 a year after that, mostly the avian-vet exam, pellets, cage liners and toys they chew through. Because a cockatiel can live 20 years, the lifetime bill runs to five figures, and hens are prone to costly egg-laying problems.
- Life expectancy
- 12–20 years
- Size
- 12–14 in long including the tail, about 100–120 g (3.5–4 oz)
- Care level
- Moderate
- Price
- $150–$400
- Setup
- About $390
- Insurance
- Available
Estimate for: One cockatiel kept as a house pet. Space needed: A cage roomy enough to flap without touching the sides (cockatiel cages such as Prevue's Pagoda are about 24 x 24 in) with 1/2- to 5/8-in bar spacing, plus daily time out of the cage.
Lifetime cost$11,100
First year $1,440Then about $650 a year
Where the money goes each year
A typical year for a cockatiel, with typical spending in an average-cost area, no insurance.
- Illness and injury (average)$200
- Replacement toys (cockatiels chew them up)$120
- Annual avian-vet wellness exam$115
- Pellets$70
- Cage liners / paper$50
- Fresh vegetables and fruit$40
- Replacement perches$20
- Nail trims and beak care (as needed)$20
- Cuttlebones / mineral blocks$10
- Typical year$650
Most years land between $430 and $1,150. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.
Setup and the first year
For cockatiels, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.
Getting set up
- Price (pet store or breeder)$275
- Cage with 1/2- to 5/8-inch bar spacing$190
- Perches in varied diameters (2–3)$40
- Extra food and water dishes$20
- Starter toys (4–5)$50
- Cuttlebone / mineral block$10
- Cage cover$30
- Travel carrier (for vet trips)$45
- New-bird exam with an avian vet$115
- New-bird tests (psittacosis PCR, fecal, Gram stain, bloodwork)$150
- Upfront$930
Running costs in year one
- Pellets$70
- Fresh vegetables and fruit$40
- Replacement toys (cockatiels chew them up)$120
- Replacement perches$20
- Cuttlebones / mineral blocks$10
- Cage liners / paper$50
- Illness and injury (average)$200
- Year-one running costs$510
First-year total: $1,440. Adopting instead brings it to about $1,500.
Make it your estimate
Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.
Your lifetime estimate$11,100
First year $1,440Then about $650 a yearOver 16 years
$54 a month in a typical year.
- Illness and injury (average)$200
- Replacement toys (cockatiels chew them up)$120
- Annual avian-vet wellness exam$115
- Pellets$70
- Cage liners / paper$50
- Fresh vegetables and fruit$40
- Replacement perches$20
- Nail trims and beak care (as needed)$20
- Cuttlebones / mineral blocks$10
- Typical year$650
What to buy
The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to a cockatiel. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.
- Cage with 1/2- to 5/8-inch bar spacingSetup, typically about $190See on Amazon
- Perches in varied diameters (2–3)Setup, typically about $40See on Amazon
- Extra food and water dishesSetup, typically about $20See on Amazon
- Starter toys (4–5)Setup, typically about $50See on Amazon
- Cuttlebone / mineral blockSetup, typically about $10See on Amazon
- Cage coverSetup, typically about $30See on Amazon
- Travel carrier (for vet trips)Setup, typically about $45See on Amazon
- PelletsOngoing, typically about $70 a yearSee on Amazon
- Cage liners / paperOngoing, typically about $50 a yearSee on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.
Health costs to plan for
| Condition | What it is | Typical treatment | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egg binding and chronic egg laying (hens) | Merck lists cockatiels among the species most often egg-bound, and Lafeber says chronic laying in hens can drain calcium and minerals. Hens lay without a male. Source | Emergency exam and X-rays, calcium, fluids and warmth; sedation or abdominal surgery if the egg won't pass (ThePricer: emergency exam $150–$300+, X-rays $150–$400+, surgery $500–$2,000+) | $300–$2,000 |
| Respiratory infection and sinusitis | Lafeber says persistent sneezing or non-clear nasal discharge in a cockatiel warrants an avian-vet visit; it also warns that mostly-seed diets cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Source | Sick-bird exam (about $150 per a 2023 owner report) plus cultures or nasal flush and an antibiotic or antifungal course (ThePricer: medication $50–$300+) | $150–$450 |
| Fatty liver disease and malnutrition | Lafeber links all-seed diets to fatty liver disease and vitamin and mineral deficiencies in cockatiels; switching to pellets is the main prevention. Source | Exam plus bloodwork (about $350 for exam and panels per 2023 owner reports), diet conversion and liver support medication | $200–$600 |
| Psittacosis (chlamydiosis) | Merck says cockatiels are relatively resistant and can carry Chlamydia psittaci without obvious illness, so they can pass it to people and other birds. Treatment is prolonged antibiotic therapy. Source | Exam, PCR test ($21 lab fee before markup) and a long doxycycline course with retest; severe cases need hospitalization | $160–$450 |
The yearly estimate includes an average of $200 for illness and injury. Insurance is available for this pet; turn it on in the calculator to compare.
What drives the cost
- The cage costs as much as the bird: PetSmart sells assorted cockatiels for $399.99 and its Prevue cockatiel cage (5/8-in bars) for the same $399.99, though Chewy flight cages that suit cockatiels start around $160–$190.
- Lifespan is the big multiplier: Merck and Lafeber say up to 20 years or more, so about $650 a year adds up to roughly $11,000 over a 16-year life.
- Hens can lay eggs without a male, and Merck lists cockatiels among the species most often egg-bound; ThePricer's planning ranges are $150–$300+ for an emergency exam, $150–$400+ for X-rays and $500–$2,000+ for surgery.
- A second cockatiel shares the cage, cover and carrier, but roughly doubles food, toys and vet bills (and The Gabriel Foundation charges $150–$300 per bird).
- Nationwide's Avian & Exotic plan covers cockatiels; premiums generally start under $21 a month with a $250 deductible.
Is it legal where you live?
Cockatiels are legal to own without a permit across the US mainland; no state ban was found. Hawaii allows only birds on its approved import lists, so check with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Branch before bringing one there.
Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.
- Pet store or breeder
- $150–$400
- Bird rescue
- $100–$300
- Lifetime
- $11,100
How this estimate is built
Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.
| Item | Typical | Basis and sources | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | |||
| Cage with 1/2- to 5/8-inch bar spacing | $190 | Typical: Prevue Wrought Iron Small & Medium Flight Cage (30 x 20 x 40 in inside, 1/2-in bars), $189.99 at Chewy; reviewers keep cockatiels in it. Low: ThePricer's $116.99 cockatiel cage. High: Prevue Pagoda Cockatiel Cage (5/8-in bars), $399.99 at PetSmart; ThePricer's range tops out at $329.99. Chewy: Prevue Wrought Iron Small & Medium Birds Flight Cage, 1/2-in spacing ($189.99); ThePricer: How Much Do Cockatiels Cost? (updated Aug 2026); PetSmart: Prevue Pagoda Cockatiel Bird Cage, 5/8-in spacing ($399.99) | |
| Perches in varied diameters (2–3) | $40 | Cockatiels need perches of different widths for foot health. Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch is $16.53 (Small) to $20.45 (X-Small) at Chewy, both listed for cockatiels; The Vet Desk gives $5–$30 per perch. Typical = 2 added perches. Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch (X-Small $20.45, Small $16.53); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Extra food and water dishes | $20 | A spare set lets you swap clean dishes daily and add one for fresh vegetables. The Vet Desk gives $5–$15 per feeder or dish. Typical = 2 dishes. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Starter toys (4–5) | $50 | Typical = 4 medium-bird toys at Chewy: Super Bird Creations Pinwheel $8.99, Triple Decker $9.99 and Activity Wall $25.99 (reviewers mention cockatiels), plus one more small toy. The Vet Desk gives $5–$30 per toy. Chewy: Super Bird Creations Pinwheel Bird Toy, Medium ($8.99); Chewy: Super Bird Creations Triple Decker Bird Toy, Medium ($9.99); Chewy: Super Bird Creations Activity Wall, Medium ($25.99); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Cuttlebone / mineral block | $10 | Lafeber notes hens often need extra calcium, such as a cuttlebone. The Vet Desk gives $2–$10 for beak-maintenance items and $10–$15 for a cuttlebone. Lafeber: Cockatiel species profile; The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Lovebird Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Cage cover | $30 | The Vet Desk gives $15–$50+ for a bird cage cover; a cover for a cockatiel-size cage sits mid-range. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Travel carrier (for vet trips) | $45 | ThePricer lists basic cockatiel carriers at $16.29–$36.99. Typical: KNUTI Bird Travel Carrier $45.95 at Chewy. High: Prevue Bird Travel Carrier $109.99 at Chewy. ThePricer: How Much Do Cockatiels Cost? (updated Aug 2026); Chewy: Best cockatiel cages (KNUTI carrier $45.95, Prevue carrier $109.99) | |
| First year | |||
| New-bird exam with an avian vet | $115 | VCA advises a first avian-vet visit soon after bringing a bird home. The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI) lists bird wellness exams from $107.62 (Feb 2026); ThePricer's cockatiel guide cites a $128 new-client exam plus a $55 mobile-vet travel fee ($183, the high end) and $90–$115 wellness exams. The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); VCA (via LifeLearn): Veterinary Care: New Bird Visit; ThePricer: How Much Do Cockatiels Cost? (updated Aug 2026) | |
| New-bird tests (psittacosis PCR, fecal, Gram stain, bloodwork) | $150 | VCA lists blood tests, fecal exam, choanal/cloacal swabs and, where warranted, chlamydiosis, polyomavirus, bornavirus and circovirus (PBFD) tests as new-bird screening. The UGA diagnostic lab charges vets $21 per Chlamydia, PBFD or polyomavirus PCR and $21 for DNA sexing, before clinic markup; Seattle and Long Island owners (2023) reported about $350 for an exam with CBC and fecal or blood panels, i.e. roughly $240 of tests, and $50–$100 per disease test. Low = fecal plus one PCR; high = full panel. ThePricer cites one breeder charging $65 per bird for DNA sexing and pathogen testing. VCA (via LifeLearn): Veterinary Care: New Bird Visit; UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab: Avian submission form and prices (Oct 2024); Parrot Forums: How much does an avian vet checkup cost? (2023 owner reports) | |
| Every year | |||
| Pellets | $70 | A pet cockatiel eats about 15 g of food a day (Cockatiel Cottage), and pellets should be 75–80% of the diet (Chewy, DVM-reviewed), so about 12 g of pellets a day, or roughly 10 lb a year. Typical: ZuPreem FruitBlend Medium Bird (made for cockatiels) at about $7/lb in 2-lb ($8.32/lb) and 10-lb bags. Low: the 17.5-lb bag at $4.40/lb. High: Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine organic pellets at $13.16/lb (5-lb bag $65.78). Cockatiel Cottage: Diet (pet cockatiels eat about 15 g a day); Chewy: Cockatiel Food: What Do Cockatiels Eat? (pellets 75–80%; DVM-reviewed); Chewy: ZuPreem FruitBlend Medium Bird Food (2 lb $16.64; 17.5 lb $76.99; cockatiel/lovebird 1/8–1/4 cup a day); Chewy: Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine (5 lb $65.78; feeding guide by species) | |
| Fresh vegetables and fruit | $40 | LOW CONFIDENCE. Vegetables and some fruit make up the 20–25% of the diet that isn't pellets, a few grams a day usually taken from household groceries. Estimated at about 1.5 lb a month at roughly $2/lb; no published per-bird produce figure was found. ThePricer allows $30/month for all small-bird routine care as an outer bound. Chewy: Cockatiel Food: What Do Cockatiels Eat? (pellets 75–80%; DVM-reviewed); ThePricer: How Much Do Cockatiels Cost? (updated Aug 2026) | |
| Replacement toys (cockatiels chew them up) | $120 | Typical = about 10 replacement medium-bird toys a year at $9–$26 each (Super Bird Creations at Chewy). The Vet Desk puts bird entertainment at $50–$150+ a year; high = about two toys a month. Chewy: Super Bird Creations Pinwheel Bird Toy, Medium ($8.99); Chewy: Super Bird Creations Activity Wall, Medium ($25.99); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Replacement perches | $20 | Wooden perches get chewed and soiled. Typical = one Polly's hardwood perch a year ($16.53–$20.45 at Chewy); high = two. Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch (X-Small $20.45, Small $16.53) | |
| Cuttlebones / mineral blocks | $10 | About one $10–$15 cuttlebone pack a year (The Vet Desk); laying hens may go through more. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Lovebird Cost? (Jan 2026); Lafeber: Cockatiel species profile | |
| Cage liners / paper | $50 | The Vet Desk puts cage litter for a small parrot at $10–$20 a month (lovebird) or $10 a month (conure); high = $10/month of pre-cut liners. Low = newspaper. Typical assumes plain paper liners plus cleaner. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Lovebird Cost? (Jan 2026); The Vet Desk: Green Cheek Conure Cost (Jan 2026) | |
| Annual avian-vet wellness exam | $115 | VCA says birds need at least an annual checkup and many vets recommend two a year. Typical = one exam (The Gentle Vets from $107.62, Feb 2026; ThePricer's conure guide uses $90–$115). High = two exams a year. Routine bloodwork (about $240 more per 2023 owner reports) is not included. The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); VCA (via LifeLearn): Veterinary Care: New Bird Visit; ThePricer: Green Cheek Conure Cost (updated Sep 2026) | |
| Nail trims and beak care (as needed) | $20 | Varied perch textures keep many birds' nails in check; others need trims once or twice a year, usually at the wellness visit. A Seattle owner reported about $18 per nail trim (2023); The Gentle Vets charges $93.53 for a beak trim, which needs an exam too. The Vet Desk puts bird beak care at $10–$50 a year. Parrot Forums: How much does an avian vet checkup cost? (2023 owner reports); The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026) | |
| Illness and injury, per year | |||
| Illness and injury (yearly average) | $200 | No survey reports average illness spending per cockatiel. Based on bird-wide planning ranges from ThePricer (emergency exam $150–$300+, medication $50–$300+, X-rays $150–$400+, hospitalization or surgery $500–$2,000+; reserve $500–$1,500) and The Vet Desk (emergencies $100–$500+ a year). Typical $200 assumes about one sick visit with medication a year or a larger bill every few years; set a little above the budgie because hens are prone to egg-laying problems. ThePricer: How Much Does a Parakeet Cost? (bird vet cost planning ranges); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026); Merck Veterinary Manual: Reproductive Disorders of Pet Birds | |
| Insurance, per month | |||
| Nationwide Avian & Exotic accident & illness premium | $15 | Nationwide is the only major US insurer for birds, quotes by phone, and lists this species among covered birds. Its bird page says premiums 'generally start at less than $21/month'; The Zebra's sample Nationwide quote for a 3-year-old macaw was $13.73/month with a $250 yearly deductible and 70% reimbursement. No species-specific quote was published, so the typical value is an estimate below Nationwide's stated ceiling. Nationwide (petinsurance.com): Pet insurance plans for birds; The Zebra: Exotic Pet Insurance (Nationwide macaw quote $13.73/month, $250 deductible, 70%) | |
More pet birds by yearly cost
- Budgie$540 a year
- Lovebird$580 a year
- Green-cheeked conure$800 a year
- Compare all pet birds
Common questions
How much does a cockatiel cost?
Pet store or breeder: $150–$400; bird rescue: $100–$300. The bigger costs come after: about $390 to set up, about $1,440 for the whole first year, then about $650 a year.
How much does a cockatiel cost per year?
About $650 a year ($54 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $430 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $1,150 for a generous owner in a big city with insurance.
How much does a cockatiel cost over its lifetime?
About $11,100 over a 16-year life, in 2026 dollars.
Sources
- ThePricer: How Much Do Cockatiels Cost? (updated Aug 2026)
- The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Pet Bird Cost? (Jan 2026)
- Lafeber: Cockatiel species profile
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Popular Pet Birds (table)
- IVIS (Miesle 2022): Avian Health and Disease – Lifespan and Longevity
- VCA (via LifeLearn): Veterinary Care: New Bird Visit
- Nationwide (petinsurance.com): Pet insurance plans for birds
- PetSmart: Live birds (cockatiel $399.99, green cheek conure $799.99)
- The Gabriel Foundation: 2026 general bird adoption fees
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Reproductive Disorders of Pet Birds
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders Affecting Multiple Body Systems of Pet Birds
- Chewy: Prevue Wrought Iron Small & Medium Birds Flight Cage, 1/2-in spacing ($189.99)
- PetSmart: Prevue Pagoda Cockatiel Bird Cage, 5/8-in spacing ($399.99)
- Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch (X-Small $20.45, Small $16.53)
- Chewy: Super Bird Creations Pinwheel Bird Toy, Medium ($8.99)
- Chewy: Super Bird Creations Triple Decker Bird Toy, Medium ($9.99)
- Chewy: Super Bird Creations Activity Wall, Medium ($25.99)
- The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Lovebird Cost? (Jan 2026)
- Chewy: Best cockatiel cages (KNUTI carrier $45.95, Prevue carrier $109.99)
- The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026)
- UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab: Avian submission form and prices (Oct 2024)
- Parrot Forums: How much does an avian vet checkup cost? (2023 owner reports)
- Cockatiel Cottage: Diet (pet cockatiels eat about 15 g a day)
- Chewy: Cockatiel Food: What Do Cockatiels Eat? (pellets 75–80%; DVM-reviewed)
- Chewy: ZuPreem FruitBlend Medium Bird Food (2 lb $16.64; 17.5 lb $76.99; cockatiel/lovebird 1/8–1/4 cup a day)
- Chewy: Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine (5 lb $65.78; feeding guide by species)
- The Vet Desk: Green Cheek Conure Cost (Jan 2026)
- ThePricer: Green Cheek Conure Cost (updated Sep 2026)
- ThePricer: How Much Does a Parakeet Cost? (bird vet cost planning ranges)
- The Zebra: Exotic Pet Insurance (Nationwide macaw quote $13.73/month, $250 deductible, 70%)
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture: Importing Animals to Hawai‘i from the U.S. Mainland
Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 14, 2026.