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Wondering how much a chinchilla costs? Chinchilla prices can vary greatly depending on where you get your chin from. Besides the cost of the chin, you should also take into account the setup costs, including getting basic accessories and a cage, as well as the day to day costs of owning and taking care of a chin. This post will help you get an estimate by listing prices of chinchillas and that of the supplies you will need.

So How Much Are Chinchillas In Total?

It will cost about $548 to get everything set up (including paying for perishables for the first time) and an additional $93 every three months. Here’s the breakdown of the costs:

*Note: Total set-up costs include buying perishables for the first time.

The above are just estimated costs in regular day to day situations. Your chins may cost more or less depending on prices in your area. Also, in emergency situations where you need to visit a vet or if your chin comes down with a health problem, you may have to fork out a few hundred dollars for each vet visit.

How Much Is A Chinchilla?

How much chinchilla costs can differ greatly depending on whether you’re getting it from the pet store, from a reputable breeder or a chinchilla rescue. Chins are sometimes also available for adoption or purchase from individuals through craigslist or similar sites. The color or type of chinchilla can also affect its price, with rarer chins costing more. Below is a table of estimated prices depending on where you get your pet from. But don’t make a decision based solely on prices – you’ll want to ensure your new pet is healthy and problem-free too.

The prices below are for a single chin but remember that chinchillas do better when they have a companion, so you should ideally be getting a pair of chins of the same gender.

Pet Store

Pet stores usually have Standard Chinchillas at around $150 or more and are usually the easiest to get access to. However, I wouldn’t really recommend getting one from a store since you would not be able to know where your pet came from and its genetic history.

Breeder

Chins from a breeder usually range from $75 to $200 or more depending on the mutation and quality of the chin. A reputable breeders is a great place to get a chinchilla as a good breeder will have healthy, well-socialized chinchillas that are less likely to develop problems later on. On top of that, you would be able to get advice on your new chin from someone who is knowledgeable about chinchillas.

The table below is an average cost! All breeders set their own price. I am including this for you, so you will have an estimated price range.

CHINCHILLAS	COLORS	MALE	FEMALE
	Afro-Violet	$125	$160
	Beige	$100	$135
	Black Velvet	$125	$160
	Ebony	$170	$195
	Mosaic	$175	$195
	Standard Grey	$69	$89
	White	$185	$205
	Charcoal	$100	$125
	Rare Colors $175+

Rescue

If you’d like to give a rescued chinchilla a new chance at life, a rescue would be a great place to get one at $75 – $200. You may be wondering why rescues even charge an adoption fee, but this goes towards helping other abused or abandoned chins. The downside to getting a chin from a rescue is that your knowledge of your new pet’s history would be limited to what information the rescue was able to obtain and there’s no guarantee your chinchilla would not develop problems later on.

Craigslist and Ad Sites

Chinchillas are sometimes put up for adoption or sale by individuals on classifieds. The chins may be entirely free (sometimes even with their existing cage and accessories) or come at a fee. Due diligence is necessary if you wish to get your chin from such web sites and as with getting a chin from a pet store, you risk getting a chin with unknown genetics, and that may have health problems.

Premium Auctions

Chinchillas from premium auctions are very high-quality chins that are usually used to improve a breeder’s existing stock or for someone who fancies show-quality pets. These are very expensive animals and can cost anywhere from $200 to upwards of $3000.

Other Costs of Keeping a Chinchilla

Besides the chinchillas themselves, you will need to purchase a cage of a suitable size which could cost around $200 to $300. Within the cage, you’ll need to have the following accessories:

• Hideout made from wood or ceramic: Your chins will need a hideout to sleep in. Plastics are not recommended as chins may chew and ingest it, causing blockages in the digestive system. You can get one for about $15
• Chew toys: Chinchillas’ teeth grow continuously throughout its life, and you need chew toys to keep your Chins’ teeth trimmed. Otherwise, the chin could develop problems later on. A pack of safe, apple wood chews costs about $5 for ten sticks. You’ll need to replenish these from time to time.
• A good quality, solid, metal wheel: A wheel is necessary for exercise to prevent obesity in your pet. This costs anywhere from $60 to $80
• A bath house and chinchilla dust: Chins need to roll around in dust to keep their coats bright and clean. A bath house could be any non-plastic bowl that’s large enough for both your chinchillas. The dust can be obtained for about $8 for a 2.5lb jar and will last for months
• Water bottle: Your chins need access to fresh water in a water bottle. A heavy-duty glass bottle costs around $30
• Bedding: Bedding absorbs moisture and urine. They can be non-cedar wood shavings, recycled paper bedding, or even fleece. Fleece can be laundered and reused, so costs are minimal, but a large bag of wood shavings or recycled paper bedding can cost anywhere from $20 to $40.

Besides the above items, you will also need food for your chins. High-quality pellets and hay should set you back about $60-$80 for three months for a pair of chins. It is a good idea to buy hay in bulk to get better prices. If you do that, you’ll have to learn how to store the hay properly to ensure that your bulk hay does not go stale before you get a chance to give it to your chins.

Iv’e made a handy Chinchilla Shopping List post where you’ll find links to everything you need!

Chinchillas are expensive pets to keep. Before you get a pair, it is a good idea to ensure that you have sufficient funds to allow for proper care for your chins. Hopefully, this article has helped you get an estimate of how much you need.