All pets / Small pets

What small pets cost

4 small pets priced the same way: what each costs to get, set up, the first year, a typical year and over its life. Cheapest to keep: Hamster, about $520 a year. Priciest: Guinea pig, about $2,170. More are added every day.

• HamsterOne Syrian hamster in an enclosure of at least 775 sq in (100 x 50 cm) floor space$520 a year, $2,100 over its life
• Pet ratTwo fancy rats in a multi-level cage, kept indoors$1,060 a year, $4,000 over its life
• RabbitA medium-size rabbit (about 4–6 lb) kept indoors$1,840 a year, $20,000 over its life
• Guinea pigTwo guinea pigs in a 10.5 sq ft C&C cage, kept indoors$2,170 a year, $14,200 over its life