Parrot Price: How Much Does a Parrot Cost?

"Parrot" covers a lot of birds, from small cockatiels to large macaws and cockatoos, and the price tags differ just as much. The bird is also only the start of the budget. A cage, perches, food, toys, and a veterinarian who sees birds are all separate costs, and they scale with the size of the bird.

This guide shows the price by species, the cost of adopting, the setup, and the yearly running costs. Figures come from published guides and retailer listings with a check date of Oct 12, 2026.

Species is the largest factor. A cockatiel is listed at $50 – $300, the lowest of the birds shown here. Amazon parrots are listed at $500 – $2,500, macaws at $1,000 – $3,000, cockatoos at $800 – $3,000, African greys at $800 – $3,500, and conures at $250 – $3,000.

Those ranges are wide on purpose. Within a species, price depends on color, age, whether the bird was hand-raised, and the seller. A separate source lists premium parrots at $500 – $5,000, which shows how far the top of the market can go.

Chain pet stores sell a smaller set of species. PetSmart lists a green cheek conure at $799.99 and an assorted cockatiel at $399.99.

Those are live listings, and prices vary by store and over time. They can sit above or below breeder prices for the same species, so compare before you buy. The green cheek conure listing falls inside the wider conure range in the table above.

Rescues and shelters often have parrots that were given up by previous owners. Adoption is listed at $20 – $1,000, a wide range that depends on the organization and the bird.

Fees differ by organization and by bird, and some rescues include a cage or supplies. Ask what the bird has been eating, how it has been housed, and what the adoption contract requires. Adopting lowers the cost of the bird but does not change the setup or running costs.

• Species. Larger and rarer species cost more, as the table above shows.
• Age. Sellers price young and adult birds on different bases.
• Hand-raising. Birds raised by hand may carry a higher price.
• Seller type. Breeders, bird shops, chain stores, and rescues each price differently.
• Shipping. Moving a live bird adds cost.

For many owners, setup is a significant share of the first-year bill. Cages, toys, perches, and stands are listed together at $300 – $1,000. The cage alone is listed at $70 – $1,000, a spread that reflects how much bigger a macaw cage is than a cockatiel cage.

Buying a cage that is too small for the bird often means buying again. A bird veterinarian or an experienced keeper can tell you what size suits the species you are considering.

Food and toys are the main recurring expenses. Larger birds eat more and chew through more toys, so the yearly bill grows with the species. The total annual cost is listed at $450 – $2,500/yr, covering the lines below.

Food is listed at $300 – $1,500/yr, an annual check-up at $100 – $250/yr, and pet insurance at $50 – $360/yr. Insurance for birds is not offered everywhere, and coverage varies by plan, so read the exclusions before you pay.

Two sources can describe the same market and reach different numbers. One may focus on common pet species, while another counts premium birds. Setup and yearly figures differ for the same reason, since they depend on how large the bird is. The table below puts two published sources side by side.

Check which species and which costs each figure covers before comparing totals.

• What species and age is the bird, and how was it raised?
• Has it seen an avian veterinarian, and are there records?
• What is it eating now, and where do you buy that food?
• Is there a return or health policy?

Rules about keeping birds can differ by city, county, and rental agreement. Landlords and homeowners associations may have their own policies, and some species have additional rules. Check your state and city rules, and your lease, before you bring a bird home.