How much does a rabbit cost to buy and keep?

All figures are as published by the sources named, checked in November 2026. Prices vary a lot by area and vet, so use them for budgeting, not as quotes.

How much is a bunny to buy?

The rabbit is the cheapest part. The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) budgets £60 to £200 for two rabbits, so roughly £30 to £100 each, in its 2026 cost breakdown. Rescues often charge in the same range but include far more: Wood Green charges £45 for one rabbit and £22 for each extra rabbit, and every one is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, with four weeks of free insurance.

In the US, Adopt a Pet puts rescue adoption fees at $50 to $150, and says rescues usually spay or neuter before adoption. There is no reliable national figure for US breeder or pet store prices, so ask locally and compare against what a rescue fee includes. Our guide on where to get a rabbit covers rescues and breeders.

How much is a bunny at PetSmart?

PetSmart does not list rabbits. As of November 2026, its US live small pets range shows guinea pigs, hamsters, fancy rats and mice, gerbils and chinchillas, but no rabbits. If you are in the US and want a rabbit, a shelter or a House Rabbit Society chapter is the place to start.

How much does a rabbit cost to set up?

Expect to spend far more on the home than on the rabbits. PDSA's 2024 minimum for a pair is £980 for indoor rabbits and £922 for outdoor rabbits, not counting the rabbits themselves. The RWAF's 2026 figure is much higher, at £3,770, because it budgets for a bigger enclosure. Both assume the RSPCA minimum space of 3 x 2 x 1 m (10 x 6 x 3 ft) for two rabbits.

The US figure looks lower mainly because a $100 to $300 habitat is far smaller than the UK charities' minimum. The MSD Veterinary Manual's US minimum cage for one medium rabbit is only 61 x 76 cm (24 x 30 in), so budget more if you want to give a pair the room UK welfare groups recommend. See our rabbit cage size guide and best rabbit cages before you buy.

• Shelter plus run or pen, at least 3 x 2 x 1 m (10 x 6 x 3 ft) for two
• A hide for each rabbit
• Litter tray and hay rack
• Heavy water bowl and food bowl
• Carrier
• Brush and nail clippers
• Toys, tunnels and a dig box
• Flystrike prevention for outdoor rabbits
• Pet insurance from day one

How much does a rabbit cost per month?

PDSA puts the minimum at £80 a month for an indoor pair and £84 for an outdoor pair, at 2024 prices. That covers hay, food, bedding, toys, insurance, health checks and boosters spread over the year. The RWAF's 2026 breakdown for two rabbits shows where it goes.

Hay is the one thing you must never cut back on: the RSPCA says hay and grass should be about 85% of what a rabbit eats. Buying a big bale from a farm or feed store is often far cheaper than small pet-shop bags, as long as it is dust-free and smells sweet. Our rabbit diet guide shows how much of each food to give.

Yearly costs: vaccines, checks and holidays

On top of the monthly costs, budget each year for:

The RWAF says all UK rabbits now need both vaccines every year, on separate visits at least two weeks apart.

How much does it cost to spay or neuter a rabbit?

In the UK, expect roughly £120 to castrate a male and £150 to spay a female. Those are the September 2026 prices at the University of Liverpool's vet practice, and the RWAF budgets up to £500 for both rabbits in a pair, which allows for pricier areas and pre-op checks. In the US, Adopt a Pet gives $150 to $250. Low-cost clinics listed by the House Rabbit Society in the San Francisco Bay Area charge $75 to $300, and a county voucher scheme there brings it as low as $33 to $48.

Spaying costs more because it is a bigger operation inside the belly. The RWAF's advice is to choose a vet for their rabbit experience, not their price. A cheaper vet who rarely operates on rabbits is a false saving. Our guide to neutering and spaying rabbits covers the operation and recovery.

How much does a rabbit cost over its lifetime?

PDSA's estimate for a pair is at least £7,700 to £10,600 for indoor rabbits and £8,000 to £11,000 for outdoor rabbits, over 7 to 10 years. The RWAF's 2026 estimate is over £17,500 for two rabbits over 10 years, because it allows for bigger housing, insurance and yearly boarding. In the US, Adopt a Pet puts the first year at $835 to $1,650 or more per rabbit, then $500 to $1,000 or more each year after.

None of these include illness. The RWAF puts a single dental procedure at about £300, and Adopt a Pet says an emergency visit can be $200 to over $1,000. Rabbits are prone to tooth problems, gut stasis and flystrike, so insurance or a savings pot is not optional.

How to keep rabbit costs down without cutting corners

1. Adopt. A rescue fee usually includes neutering, vaccines and a microchip, saving hundreds per rabbit.
2. Buy hay in bulk. A bale from a farm or feed store costs far less per kilo than small bags.
3. Build or convert housing. A shed with a run, or a rabbit-proofed room, can beat the price of a shop hutch that meets the minimum size.
4. Grow greens. Herbs and leafy greens from the garden or a windowsill cut the biggest monthly food cost.
5. Insure early. Cover taken out before any illness is cheaper and has fewer exclusions.
6. Share vaccine sessions. The RWAF suggests vet vaccine clinics or sharing a multi-dose vial with other local owners to cut the cost.

For everything a pair needs day to day, see our complete rabbit care guide, and for an honest look at whether rabbits suit you, read rabbits as pets.