Cockatoo Cost: Price, Setup and Yearly Cost (2026)

Where the money goes each year

A typical year for a cockatoo, with typical spending in an average-cost area, no insurance.

Illness and injury (average)$450
Replacement toys (cockatoos destroy them)$400
Fresh vegetables, fruit and treats$300
Cage liners, cleaning supplies and baths$240
Pellets$164
Annual avian-vet wellness exam$150
Replacement perches$50
Nail trims and beak care (as needed)$50
Typical year$1,800

Most years land between $1,040 and $3,140. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.

Setup and the first year

For cockatoos, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.

Getting set up

Price (breeder or bird store (captive-bred))$3,500
Large-parrot cage (36 x 24 in footprint or bigger, strongly welded)$1,000
Perches in varied diameters (3)$60
Extra food, fresh-food and water dishes$20
Starter toys (4–6 large-bird toys)$160
Cage cover$25
Travel carrier (for vet trips)$75
New-bird exam with an avian vet$150
Upfront$4,990

Running costs in year one

Pellets$164
Fresh vegetables, fruit and treats$300
Replacement toys (cockatoos destroy them)$400
Replacement perches$50
Cage liners, cleaning supplies and baths$240
Illness and injury (average)$450
Year-one running costs$1,600

First-year total: $6,590. Adopting instead brings it to about $4,120.

Make it your estimate

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What to buy

The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to a cockatoo. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.

Large-parrot cage (36 x 24 in footprint or bigger, strongly welded)Setup, typically about $1,000
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Perches in varied diameters (3)Setup, typically about $60
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Extra food, fresh-food and water dishesSetup, typically about $20
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Starter toys (4–6 large-bird toys)Setup, typically about $160
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Cage coverSetup, typically about $25
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Travel carrier (for vet trips)Setup, typically about $75
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PelletsOngoing, typically about $164 a year
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Cage liners, cleaning supplies and bathsOngoing, typically about $240 a year
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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
Feather destruction and self-mutilation	Lafeber says umbrellas may chew and pull out feathers when confined or under-stimulated and are 'prone to self-mutilation,' which can lead to infections; LafeberVet lists both for cockatoos, and Merck warns that back-stroking stimulates hormones 'especially in cockatoos.' Source	Exams ($108–$225 each), lab work to rule out medical causes, wound care and collars for self-injury, rechecks and behavior work; ongoing enrichment	$250–$1,200
Cloacal prolapse	Merck says prolapse is seen 'in adult cockatoos, typically males,' linked to hand-raising, delayed weaning and close attachment to a person, and will likely recur without behavior change. Source	LOW CONFIDENCE (no published price found): exam, cleaning and replacing the tissue under anesthesia, stay sutures for several days; severe cases need vent reduction or cloacopexy surgery plus avian-behaviorist consults	$300–$2,000
Obesity and fatty liver disease	Lafeber lists fatty liver disease and obesity from a high-fat diet for umbrellas, and Merck says obesity raises the risk of fatty liver and arthritis and names galah cockatoos as especially prone. Source	Exam, bloodwork and sometimes imaging, then a measured pellet diet and more exercise; liver-support medication in sick birds	$150–$800
Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD)	Lafeber and LafeberVet list PBFD for cockatoos; Merck says testing has greatly cut cases in cockatoos, but there is no cure and it mainly hits young birds, so test before buying. Source	Circovirus test at the new-bird exam, then supportive care for secondary infections; euthanasia is often recommended for affected birds	$100–$600

The yearly estimate includes an average of $450 for illness and injury. Insurance is available for this pet; turn it on in the calculator to compare.

What drives the cost

Species changes the price a lot: ThePricer found Ana's Parrots asking $2,100–$2,200 for Goffin's, $2,500–$5,800 for umbrellas, $4,000–$4,500 for sulphur-cresteds, $5,000 for a Moluccan and $6,500 for a rose-breasted (galah), and palm cockatoos run $15,000+.
Smaller Goffin's (220–390 g, per LafeberVet) cost less to house and feed; Moluccans (about 850 g) need a macaw-size cage like Petco's $1,316 A&E 48 x 36 x 76 in model.
Cockatoos are heavy chewers: Merck says they are 'very likely to chew wood, plastic, and other materials,' so large-bird toys at $40 each and wooden perches are a recurring cost, not a one-off.
Umbrellas shed powder dust that can bother people with allergies; Lafeber suggests regular baths and an air purifier, which is an extra running cost for some homes.
Merck calls cockatoos 'very loud when they scream' and 'not for inexperienced owners'; rescues take in many, which is why rescue fees ($650 for a large cockatoo at Florida Parrot Rescue) are far below breeder prices.

Is it legal where you live?

No US state ban on keeping cockatoos was found. The umbrella cockatoo is on CITES Appendix II and listed as endangered by the IUCN, and the 1992 Wild Bird Conservation Act bars most imports of wild-caught CITES-listed birds, so pet umbrellas sold in the US should be domestically captive-bred; ask the seller for proof the bird was bred in the US.

Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.

Breeder or bird store (captive-bred): $2,000–$5,000
Bird rescue: $650–$1,000
Lifetime: $95,000

How this estimate is built

Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.

Item	Typical	Range	Basis and sources
Setup
Large-parrot cage (36 x 24 in footprint or bigger, strongly welded)	$1,000	$675–$1,400	PetMD's minimum for a cockatoo is 36 x 24 x 48 in with 3/4 in bars; LafeberVet asks for tall, strongly welded cages with 1/2–3/4 in spacing and locking doors. Low: A&E Majestic Series Medium, listed for cockatoos, $674.70 (32 x 23 x 68 in, just under PetMD's footprint). High: Prevue Imperial Stainless Steel, listed for cockatoos, $1,399.99. Typical sits between those and near Petco's A&E 48 x 36 x 76 in cage at $1,315.99 (via ThePricer). Cheap $60–$100 rolling cages listed for cockatoos are not strong enough for an umbrella's beak. PetMD: Cockatoo Bird Species: Types, Lifespan, and Care (reviewed by Maria Zayas, DVM; Jan 2024); LafeberVet: Basic Information Sheet: Cockatoo (weights, common diseases, bar spacing); Chewy: Best Cockatoo Cages 2026 (A&E Majestic Medium $674.70; Prevue Imperial Stainless $1,399.99; Prevue Travel Bird Cage $74.99; Halinfer carrier $29.36); ThePricer: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (updated Sep 2026; Ana's Parrots, Florida Parrot Rescue, Petco and Find an Exotic Vet figures)
Perches in varied diameters (3)	$60	$40–$90	LafeberVet gives perch diameters of 0.75–2 in for cockatoos. Polly's hardwood perch is $18.58 at Chewy (its 28–36 in sizes are for large cockatoos) and a Booda Comfy rope perch 2-pack, listed for cockatoos, is $30.38; The Vet Desk gives $40–$60 for perches. Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch ($18.58; 28–36 in sizes for large cockatoos); Chewy: Booda Large Comfy Bird Perch, 21 in, 2-pack ($30.38; Amazons and cockatoos); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026); LafeberVet: Basic Information Sheet: Cockatoo (weights, common diseases, bar spacing)
Extra food, fresh-food and water dishes	$20	$15–$25	The Vet Desk gives $15–$25 for food and water dishes for a cockatoo. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026)
Starter toys (4–6 large-bird toys)	$160	$60–$240	Super Bird Creations Woodpile Large/X-Large is $39.99 and 4 Way Play X-Large is $42.99 at Chewy. Typical = four large toys; high = six; low = The Vet Desk's $40–$60 starter budget plus a couple of cheaper chews. Chewy: Super Bird Creations Woodpile Bird Toys, Large/X-Large ($39.99; small cockatoos); Chewy: Super Bird Creations 4 Way Play Bird Toy, X-Large ($42.99); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026)
Cage cover	$25	$20–$30	The Vet Desk gives $20–$30 for a cockatoo cage cover. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026)
Travel carrier (for vet trips)	$75	$29–$75	Prevue Travel Bird Cage, listed for cockatoos, $74.99 at Chewy; low = Halinfer zip-front carrier backpack, $29.36, which is better suited to smaller cockatoos. Chewy: Best Cockatoo Cages 2026 (A&E Majestic Medium $674.70; Prevue Imperial Stainless $1,399.99; Prevue Travel Bird Cage $74.99; Halinfer carrier $29.36)
First year
New-bird exam with an avian vet	$150	$108–$225	Find an Exotic Vet's 2026 new-patient visit is $135–$225 before diagnostics (via ThePricer); The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI) lists bird wellness exams from $107.62 and consultations from $118.39 (Feb 2026). LafeberVet advises quarantining new birds. Lab tests such as bloodwork and disease PCRs are extra and not included here. ThePricer: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (updated Sep 2026; Ana's Parrots, Florida Parrot Rescue, Petco and Find an Exotic Vet figures); The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); LafeberVet: Basic Information Sheet: Cockatoo (weights, common diseases, bar spacing)
Every year
Pellets	$164	$82–$246	LOW CONFIDENCE on quantity: PetMD says about two-thirds of the diet should be pellets, but no feeding amount for umbrellas was found. ZuPreem FruitBlend Large Bird, listed for cockatoos, is $81.99 for 17.5 lb at Chewy. Typical = two bags a year (35 lb), low = one, high = three. PetMD: Cockatoo Bird Species: Types, Lifespan, and Care (reviewed by Maria Zayas, DVM; Jan 2024); Chewy: ZuPreem FruitBlend Daily Large Bird Food, 17.5 lb ($81.99; for macaws, cockatoos, Amazons)
Fresh vegetables, fruit and treats	$300	$120–$500	PetMD puts fruit and vegetables at 20–25% of the diet and seeds at no more than 10%. The Vet Desk gives cockatoo food at $50–$60 a month and treats at $50–$100; Heartland Avian Rescue Project's $50–$100+ a month for an extra-large parrot (via ThePricer) is the high end. Typical = about $25 a month on top of pellets. PetMD: Cockatoo Bird Species: Types, Lifespan, and Care (reviewed by Maria Zayas, DVM; Jan 2024); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026); ThePricer: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (updated Sep 2026; Ana's Parrots, Florida Parrot Rescue, Petco and Find an Exotic Vet figures)
Replacement toys (cockatoos destroy them)	$400	$150–$960	The Vet Desk budgets $10–$80 a month for cockatoo entertainment and toys ($120–$960 a year). Typical = about ten large toys a year at $40 (Super Bird Creations at Chewy); Merck says cockatoos are very likely to chew wood and plastic. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026); Chewy: Super Bird Creations Woodpile Bird Toys, Large/X-Large ($39.99; small cockatoos); Merck Veterinary Manual (owners): Choosing a Pet Bird
Replacement perches	$50	$20–$100	Wooden and rope perches get chewed. Typical = a Polly's hardwood perch ($18.58) and a Booda rope 2-pack ($30.38) a year at Chewy; high = twice that. Chewy: Polly's Hardwood Bird Perch ($18.58; 28–36 in sizes for large cockatoos); Chewy: Booda Large Comfy Bird Perch, 21 in, 2-pack ($30.38; Amazons and cockatoos)
Cage liners, cleaning supplies and baths	$240	$120–$480	The Vet Desk gives $20–$40 a month for cleaning and environmental upkeep ($240–$480 a year); low = newspaper liners and plain cleaning supplies. LafeberVet recommends frequent baths or showers to manage powder dust. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026); LafeberVet: Basic Information Sheet: Cockatoo (weights, common diseases, bar spacing)
Annual avian-vet wellness exam	$150	$108–$400	PetMD says at least one checkup a year. Find an Exotic Vet's 2026 wellness exam is $115–$200 (via ThePricer); The Gentle Vets lists bird wellness exams from $107.62. High = two exams a year at $200. PetMD: Cockatoo Bird Species: Types, Lifespan, and Care (reviewed by Maria Zayas, DVM; Jan 2024); ThePricer: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (updated Sep 2026; Ana's Parrots, Florida Parrot Rescue, Petco and Find an Exotic Vet figures); The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026)
Nail trims and beak care (as needed)	$50	$0–$190	LafeberVet lists beak malocclusion in cockatoos. The Gentle Vets charges $93.53 for a beak trim, which needs an exam too; many birds keep nails and beak in shape on varied perches. Typical = one trim about every other year; high = two trims a year. The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); LafeberVet: Basic Information Sheet: Cockatoo (weights, common diseases, bar spacing)
Illness and injury, per year
Illness and injury (yearly average)	$450	$100–$1,500	No survey reports average illness spending per cockatoo. The Vet Desk lists $100–$400 a year of additional costs on top of routine care; a single sick visit starts at $118–$225 before tests (The Gentle Vets; Find an Exotic Vet via ThePricer). Typical $450 assumes roughly one sick visit with tests and medication a year; cockatoos' risk of feather destruction, cloacal prolapse and diet-related liver disease puts the high end well above small birds. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026); The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); ThePricer: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (updated Sep 2026; Ana's Parrots, Florida Parrot Rescue, Petco and Find an Exotic Vet figures)
Insurance, per month
Nationwide Avian & Exotic accident & illness premium	$25	$15–$50	Nationwide lists cockatoos among the birds it covers and says premiums 'generally start at less than $21/month'; quotes are by phone. The Vet Desk gives $15–$50 a month for cockatoo insurance. Typical sits a little above Nationwide's starting point because umbrellas are a high-value bird. Nationwide (petinsurance.com): Pet insurance plans for birds (cockatoos listed; premiums generally under $21/month); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Cockatoo Cost? (Jan 2026)

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Common questions

How much does a cockatoo cost?

Breeder or bird store (captive-bred): $2,000–$5,000; bird rescue: $650–$1,000. The bigger costs come after: about $1,340 to set up, about $6,590 for the whole first year, then about $1,800 a year.

How much does a cockatoo cost per year?

About $1,800 a year ($150 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $1,040 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $3,140 for a generous owner in a big city with insurance.

How much does a cockatoo cost over its lifetime?

About $95,000 over a 50-year life, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 16, 2026. Spot a wrong figure?