How Much Does a Hamster Cost? (Monthly and Lifetime)
To prepare hamster owners for future costs, Household Pets has created an overview of the lifetime cost of owning a hamster using forecasted inflation.
Methodology (How Costs Are Calculated)
1) A cost breakdown has been formed using individual prices found online, like on the Pets at Home website and listing sites, to educate potential hamster owners of the financial side of owning a pet.
2) This breakdown factors in the different sizes of hamsters that can be bought as well as the differing quality of products available on the market. Better quality items will cost more than the minimally priced products, just like larger hamsters will eat more food.
3) Using the inflation forecast for future years, these costs have been amended to show how the costs will increase during the hamster’s lifetime, which has been averaged at 2 years.
Results
As well as showing the overall lifetime cost of owning a hamster, this total can be split into monthly costs.
Due to the various sizes of hamsters available, the totals can be further broken down to show the costs of small and large hamsters.
Lifetime Cost of Owning a Hamster
| Hamster Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Hamster from a Breeder (85g | 2 years) | £448.88 | £1,207.69 | £2,184.55 |
| Small Hamster from Pets at Home (85g | 2 years) | £448.88 | £1,202.69 | £2,169.55 |
| Large Hamster from a Breeder (150g | 2 years) | £465.25 | £1,229.56 | £2,216.13 |
| Large Hamster from Pets at Home (150g | 2 years) | £465.25 | £1,224.56 | £2,201.13 |
Monthly Cost of Owning a Hamster
| Hamster Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Hamster from a Breeder (85g | 2 years) | £18.70 | £50.32 | £91.02 |
| Small Hamster from Pets at Home (85g | 2 years) | £18.70 | £50.11 | £90.40 |
| Large Hamster from a Breeder (150g | 2 years) | £19.39 | £51.23 | £92.34 |
| Large Hamster from Pets at Home (150g | 2 years) | £19.39 | £51.02 | £91.71 |
Detailed Data - See All the Costs of Owning a Hamster
Initial and ongoing costs make up the lifetime total of owning a hamster.
Initial costs include the purchase of the hamster and buying essential items, such as the enclosure, water bottle, bowl, grooming equipment, and more.
Ongoing costs are items that are bought regularly throughout a gerbil’s lifetime; the most common ongoing cost is food.
The tables shown below include the initial and ongoing items and prices.
Initial Costs
When first buying a hamster, there are a number of items that are required, such as a cage, bowl, water bottle. These are all initial costs. All of these items can cost hamster owners between £179.44 and £857.36 in the first year of owning the pet.
Cost of the Hamster
| Type of Hamster | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamster from a Breeder | £10.00 | £15.00 | £25.00 |
| Hamster from Pets at Home | £10.00 | £10.00 | £10.00 |
There are a couple of different places to buy hamsters. One option is Pets at Home; hamsters cost £10 each at this pet shop. Other pet store prices might differ.
Breeders online are another option when buying a hamster, although the costs can be slightly more expensive; hamsters from a breeder can cost £25.
Other One-Off Initial Costs
| Item | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowl | £1.00 | £3.00 | £5.00 |
| Water Bottle | £1.50 | £3.25 | £5.00 |
| Cage | £22.00 | £51.00 | £120.00 |
| Bed | £2.00 | £6.00 | £12.00 |
| Toy | £1.00 | £6.00 | £17.00 |
| Carrier | £6.00 | £15.00 | £16.00 |
| Brush | £5.00 | £7.00 | £9.00 |
Ongoing Costs
As hamsters can vary in size, this will affect the ongoing costs, specifically food. Larger hamsters will consume more food than smaller hamster, and their enclosures might need to be cleaned more regularly. However, hamster owners can expect to pay £448.88 and £2,201.13 throughout the animal’s lifetime.
Cost to Feed a Hamster
Nuggets is an essential aspect of a hamster’s diet, costing owners up to £41.52 a year.
Monthly Food Costs
| Hamster Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Hamster from a Breeder (85g | 2 years) | £1.36 | £1.82 | £3.95 |
| Small Hamster from Pets at Home (85g | 2 years) | £1.36 | £1.82 | £3.95 |
| Large Hamster from a Breeder (150g | 2 years) | £2.05 | £2.73 | £5.26 |
| Large Hamster from Pets at Home (150g | 2 years) | £2.05 | £2.73 | £5.26 |
Lifetime Food Costs
| Hamster Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Hamster from a Breeder (85g | 2 years) | £32.73 | £43.65 | £94.73 |
| Small Hamster from Pets at Home (85g | 2 years) | £32.73 | £43.65 | £94.73 |
| Large Hamster from a Breeder (150g | 2 years) | £49.10 | £65.53 | £126.31 |
| Large Hamster from Pets at Home (150g | 2 years) | £49.10 | £65.53 | £126.31 |
Cost of Bedding
Hamsters need fresh bedding up to twice a week, meaning hamster owners could spend up to £42.58.
Monthly Bedding Costs
| Item | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding | £2.11 | £19.76 | £42.58 |
Lifetime Bedding Costs
| Item | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding | £50.74 | £474.21 | £1021.80 |
Other Ongoing Costs
| Item | Minimum Annual Cost | Mid Annual Cost | Maximum Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hay | £65.96 | £123.96 | £175.96 |
| Treats | £9.54 | £35.34 | £66.00 |
| Shampoo | £4.00 | £4.50 | £5.00 |
| Flea, Tick, and Worm Treatment | £24.00 | £24.00 | £24.00 |
Final Words
Hamsters might also require vet care, and the cost of this is not included in the report.