How Much Does a Rabbit Cost? 2026 Setup, Monthly and Vet Costs

Adopting a rabbit costs about $25 to $100, setting up a home costs about $150 to $400, and ongoing care runs about $40 to $80 a month. Vet visits, spaying or neutering and emergencies are extra, so plan for more in the first year than in later years.

Rabbits cost less up front than a dog, but they are not cheap to keep. Hay, greens, litter and a rabbit-savvy vet add up each month, and exotic vet visits cost more than cat or dog visits. Budget for the lifetime picture on this page, not just the purchase price.

Plan on roughly $175 to $500 on day one: $25 to $100 for the rabbit and $150 to $400 for an exercise pen, litter box, hideout, bowls, flooring and starter hay, pellets and litter. After that, budget $40 to $80 a month plus vet care. Buying a secondhand pen and adopting a rabbit that is already desexed are the two biggest savings.

Not quite. Two bonded rabbits can share one large pen, litter boxes and toys, so setup rises only modestly, but food, litter and vet bills roughly double. Many rescues adopt out bonded pairs already desexed, which saves the largest single cost. Rabbits are social, so a bonded pair is often the better choice even with the higher running cost.

Ongoing monthly costs for one rabbit typically run from about 40 to 80 dollars, covering hay, fresh greens, a small amount of pellets, and litter. Hay is the largest recurring expense because rabbits eat a lot of it, and quality grass hay is worth the cost for dental and digestive health. Greens add up depending on local produce prices. This figure excludes vet care, which is occasional but significant, so it is wise to set aside a little each month toward exotic vet bills.

Expect to spend roughly 150 to 400 dollars on initial setup, depending on how much you buy new. The big-ticket item is a large exercise pen or roomy enclosure, followed by a litter box, hideout, water bowl, hay feeder, and starter supplies of hay, pellets, and litter. You can lower costs by adopting a rabbit who comes with supplies, buying a secondhand pen, and using household items like cardboard boxes for hideouts and toys. Spaying or neutering, if not already done, adds to early costs.

Rabbits need an exotic or rabbit-savvy vet, and those visits cost more than typical cat or dog appointments. A routine wellness exam often runs 50 to 100 dollars or more, while spaying or neutering generally ranges from about 100 to 400 dollars depending on your area and the rabbit's sex. Emergency care, such as treatment for GI stasis or dental work for molar spurs, can run into the hundreds quickly. Budgeting for these less frequent but larger costs is essential before adopting.

Adopting from a rescue or shelter is usually both cheaper and kinder. Adoption fees commonly range from about 25 to 100 dollars and very often include spaying or neutering, which alone can cost more than the fee. Many rescues also vaccinate where relevant, microchip, and provide a health check, and some send the rabbit home with supplies. Buying from a breeder or pet store rarely includes desexing, so the upfront price can look lower while the true cost climbs once you add the surgery.

For day-to-day spending, hay is the single largest recurring cost because rabbits should have unlimited grass hay, and they eat a great deal of it. Fresh leafy greens are the next regular expense. Over the full life of the rabbit, however, veterinary care is usually the biggest total cost, since exotic vet visits, dental treatment, and the occasional emergency for a delicate digestive system add up across an 8 to 12 year lifespan. Both are worth budgeting for from the start.

Not quite double, but close on consumables. Two rabbits eat roughly twice the hay, greens, and pellets, and use more litter, so food and litter costs do scale up. Setup costs rise less because a bonded pair can share one larger enclosure, litter box arrangement, and many toys. Vet costs roughly double since each rabbit needs its own care. Many owners feel the companionship a bonded pair provides is well worth the added expense, and it spares a social animal from loneliness.

Beyond the obvious, budget for rabbit-proofing supplies like cord protectors, replacement chew toys, grooming tools, and possibly a pet sitter for travel. Rabbits chew, so expect to replace damaged items and protect furniture and baseboards. Molting season may call for extra grooming gear. The largest hidden cost is emergency veterinary care, since a rabbit can go from healthy to critically ill within hours, so an emergency fund or pet insurance that covers exotics is strongly recommended.