Budgies, or budgerigars, are also known as parakeets. These tropical birds are in the genus Agapornis, making them a small type of parrot. They originally hail from the grasslands and dry outback of Australia. Today, they are the most popular species of pet birds on earth! Many enthusiasts recommend them for beginning bird owners.
Budgies excel as pets because of their bright colors, social behavior, and cheerful songs. They whistle, chatter like other parrots, and can learn to mimic and respond to human speech. The more you train and spend time with your budgie, the more it will bond and interact with you.
This article addresses the cost of buying a budgie and its accompanying necessary equipment. You’ll need a cage, toys, and food, not to mention savings for regular vet visits and unexpected emergencies.
Keep reading to learn about the cost of budgies – we’ll discuss one-time expenses and what it costs each month for maintenance.
Highlights:
- A budgie costs around $40 for just the bird, not including other things required in a first-time purchase.
- A decent cage will cost you $30 on the low end and $200+ on the high end, not an item you want to get cheap on.
- You should budget at least $35/month, which goes to food, enrichment toys, and vet bills.
- Stay on the lookout for deals and you could probably get started with a budgie for less than $250.
How Much Does a Budgie Cost?
A budgie, also known as a parakeet, is a species of parrot (Melopsittacus undulatus) popularly kept as a pet. Depending on where you obtain your budgie and its coloration, prices range from $10 to $40.
When you first take your budgie home, you’ll need to set aside about $225 for one-time expenses. These include the purchase price of the bird, the cage, cover, liner, bowls, and the first vet visit. It’s up to you if you want to purchase pet insurance too.
Budgies are smaller parrots so you won’t need to shell out more than a couple hundred dollars for a cage. Do consider buying a travel cage to place your budgie in while cleaning and refreshing its full size cage.
All cages should be at least 20” x 18” x 18”, but we recommend at least 2’ in all dimensions, especially if you’re buying a pair of birds. For every additional bird, we recommend adding at least 4” of space in each direction.
| Cost of Keeping a Pet Budgie | ||
| Activity/Item/Fee | Cost | Type of Cost |
| Animal Purchase Fee | $10-$40 | One-time |
| Cage, Cover, & Liner | $75-$200 | One-time |
| Food | $20-$35 | Ongoing |
| Food/Water Bowls | $10 | One-time |
| Toys/Enrichment Materials | $10-$15 | Ongoing |
| Initial Vet Visit & Vaccination | $100-$200 | One-time |
| Subsequent Vet Visits | $25 | Ongoing |
| Pet Insurance | $10 | Ongoing |
How Much Does a Budgie Cost Per Month?
Upkeep costs of a pet budgie might not be as expensive as you think. There are regular costs, just as with keeping any animal. Food, toys, and vet visits are the three biggest fund sinks for budgie maintenance.
The ongoing prices of a budgie are smaller than that of other parrots. Since budgies are the most popular pet bird species in the world, there are many different affordable toy and food options. You don’t have to stick to budgie-specific toys. Branch out and try other parrot or cockatiel toys.
Food is a non-negotiable expense. Feed your budgie pellets, not seeds. Seeds should only be fed as treats. Feeding seeds too often can result in the bird refusing to eat any other food.
A single bag of budgie food might last a couple months. Other treats you can feed include fruit and vegetables, except avocado, which is toxic to budgies.
You don’t need to buy extra