How Much Does Gerbil Ownership Really Cost?
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Gerbils are one of the more affordable small pets, with one important caveat: like the degu, you're budgeting for two animals, not one.
The Gerbil: $5 to $50 Each
Most gerbils run $10 to $20 at a typical pet store, with adoption often landing at $10 or less, sometimes including a starter cage. Since this species must be kept in same-sex pairs or small groups, plan for at least two from the outset.
Upfront Setup: Roughly $150 to $350
| Item | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| A gerbil (each; budget for a pair) | $5 - $50 |
| 20-gallon long aquarium (terrestrial setup) | $35 - $60 |
| Secure mesh lid | $35 - $42 |
| Solid exercise wheel (10-12 in) | $28 - $40 |
| Hideouts and tunnels | $10 - $30 |
| Water bottle and food dishes | $3 - $9 |
| Digital thermometer | $11 - $19 |
A glass tank is the main expense here, not a wire cage, along with genuinely deep bedding, a solid exercise wheel, hides, and chews. A single gerbil's setup runs toward the lower end of this range, a properly housed pair toward the higher end.
Ongoing Costs: Roughly $10 to $20 a Month
Food and bedding make up nearly the entire monthly cost:
| Item | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Bedding | $18 - $30 |
| Hamster pellets or lab blocks | $9 - $14 |
| Grass hay (unlimited) | $18 - $26 |
| Sand bath (chinchilla sand) | $10 - $14 |
| Chew toys (smaller, softer) | $10 - $18 |
| Exotic vet check | $60 - $130 |
Prices last checked September 2026 at PetSmart and Small Pet Select. Retail prices move; treat the table as a snapshot, not a quote.
Spot-cleaning rather than full bedding changes stretches this further, a genuinely low-maintenance species financially.
Vet Costs
You'll want an exotics-experienced vet. Scent-gland tumor removal is the most common surgical cost in this species, and because gerbils are small, health problems can progress quickly, prompt vet visits matter more than they might for a larger animal.
Lifespan
2 to 3 years is the normal lifespan for this species.
Shorter than a degu, but still a genuine multi-year commitment worth planning for rather than treating as disposable. A gerbil bought as a "starter pet" for a child is still, on average, a two to three year relationship.
The Honest Budgeting Takeaway
Gerbils are inexpensive individually and inexpensive to maintain, the adjustment for first-timers is the tank itself. A proper glass enclosure with deep digging substrate costs more upfront than the wire cages often marketed for small rodents, but it's the right choice for how this species lives. Guinea pigs trade that vertical digging depth for floor space instead, and our Gerbil vs. Guinea Pig guide lays out which space requirement fits a given room better. If you're weighing a gerbil against another social, day-active small rodent, our Degu cost guide covers the closest comparison, and Two Pets Where You're Really Buying a Pair walks through both side by side.
The Gerbil encyclopedia profile covers the desert burrow systems that explain why the tank matters more than the animal's price.
Sources & Further Reading
Last reviewed 14 Sep 2026 · 2 sources
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a gerbil itself cost?
$10 to $20 is the usual pet store price, and adoption often runs $10 or less, sometimes with a starter cage thrown in. They have to live in same-sex pairs or small groups, so plan on at least two.
What does a full gerbil setup cost upfront?
Roughly $150 to $350. The big line is a glass tank instead of a wire cage, and after that come deep bedding, a solid exercise wheel, hides, and chews. One gerbil lands near the bottom of that range, a properly housed pair near the top.
What are the ongoing monthly costs for gerbils?
Roughly $10 to $20 a month once the annual supply costs are spread out, almost all of it food and bedding. Spot-cleaning instead of full bedding changes stretches that further, which makes this a cheap species to run.
How much does gerbil vet care cost?
You'll want an exotics-experienced vet. The most common surgical cost in this species is removing a scent-gland tumor, and since gerbils are small, problems can progress fast, so a prompt visit matters more than for a larger animal.
How long do gerbils live?
2 to 3 years. Shorter than a degu, but a gerbil bought as a starter pet is still a multi-year commitment.
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Written by Michael Ryan
Mike keeps two rescued bearded dragons, Dex and Cera, and writes the care guides on BeastlyFacts from his own research and mistakes. He is not a veterinarian.
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