How much does a chinchilla cost to buy and keep?

All prices are as of November 2026 and come from the named shops and charities. Prices change and vary by store and area, so use them as a guide and check locally.

How much is a chinchilla?

Between about $40 and $250 in the US, and around £50 from a UK rescue, depending on where you get it. Here is what our sources say:

A rescue chinchilla is usually an adult whose character is already known, and Raystede also runs a bonding service to pair a single chinchilla with a companion. Our guide to where to get a chinchilla covers rescues, breeders and pet shops in detail, and chinchilla breeds and colours explains why some colours cost more.

How much are chinchillas at Petco and PetSmart?

PetSmart listed a chinchilla at $249.99 in November 2026, and says its selection varies by location. We couldn't check Petco's live price, because its pages were not available to us when we looked. Chewy's vet-reviewed care sheet puts the average pet shop price at about $200, so expect Petco to be in the same range, and ring your local store before you go.

A pet shop chinchilla is only the start of the bill. PetSmart's chinchilla is one animal, and chinchillas need a companion of the same sex, so most people pay that price twice.

How much does a chinchilla cost in the UK?

A rescue chinchilla costs about £50: Raystede, a large animal charity in East Sussex, charges £50 per chinchilla, its highest small animal fee. UK breeders don't publish prices often. The National Chinchilla Society says its members may sell good-quality pets at prices similar to a pet shop's, but gives no figures. Pets at Home's small animal section lists rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and mice, but no chinchillas, so a breeder or rescue is usually the route in the UK.

What does it cost to set up a chinchilla?

The cage is the biggest cost by far, then the wheel, dust bath and first supplies. A pair needs a tall, multi-level metal cage: VCA gives at least 91 × 61 × 152 cm (3 × 2 × 5 ft) for two. For a sense of price, PetSmart sells the MidWest Critter Nation single unit for $204.99, and zooplus UK sells the Ferplast Vital 120 at 120 × 60 × 116 cm (47 × 24 × 46 in) for £209.49. Both are shorter than VCA's figure for a pair, so a taller or double-height cage will cost more. Our guide to the best chinchilla cages shows what to buy.

• Tall metal cage with solid shelves and floor, bars no wider than 2.5 cm (1 in) apart (PetMD)
• Solid running wheel about 38 cm (15 in) across (PetMD, VCA)
• Dust bath about 15 × 15 × 23 cm (6 × 6 × 9 in) and chinchilla dust (PetMD)
• A nest box or hide for each chinchilla, plus one big enough to share (RSPCA)
• Hay rack, heavy bowl and water bottle
• Bedding (substrate) or washable fleece liners
• Untreated wooden chews and a pumice block
• Room thermometer, and a fan or air conditioning if your summers are hot
• A small carrier for vet trips
• A first vet check soon after you bring them home (VCA)

Our chinchilla cage setup guide shows where each piece goes.

How much does a chinchilla cost per month?

About $50 a month for food, bedding and chew toys, says Adopt a Pet. Hay is the biggest regular cost, because it should be available all day, every day. Pellets are cheap, as each chinchilla only needs 1 to 2 tablespoons a day. Some sample prices, as of November 2026:

Our chinchilla diet guide covers how much hay and pellets to give, and chinchilla bedding compares types, which changes the monthly bill a lot.

How much are vet bills for a chinchilla?

Plan for a check-up every year and some money set aside for teeth. VCA says chinchillas should be examined at least once a year, with droppings checked for parasites, and they don't need routine vaccinations. As one UK example, the University of Liverpool Veterinary Practice charges £53 for a 30-minute exotic pet consultation, correct as of September 2026. We couldn't find a sourced US price for a chinchilla exam; Adopt a Pet warns that exotic vet care can run into the thousands of dollars when something goes wrong.

What does a chinchilla cost over its lifetime?

Over 10 to 15 years, the running costs alone come to around $6,000 to $9,000, based on Adopt a Pet's $50 a month. Add the purchase price, a setup that starts at about $200 or £200 for the cage alone, yearly vet checks and any treatment. PDSA calls chinchillas "a big emotional and financial commitment", and a pair doubles the cost of food, bedding and vet fees, though the cage and setup are shared.

Is a chinchilla worth the cost?

For the right home, yes. A chinchilla is clean, quiet and doesn't smell, says the RSPCA, and lives far longer than most small pets. The downsides are about time and space more than money: a cool room all year, a big cage, an evening routine and a vet who knows exotics. If you're still deciding, our guide to chinchillas as pets covers who they suit, the full chinchilla care guide covers daily life, and how long chinchillas live explains the long commitment.