I take great care of my rats, great food, bedding, nice airy cage, keep everything clean etc... that helps keep them healthy.

Their lifespan & the fact that they are prone to tumors are the biggest heartbreaks of owning rats.

I guess I have been quite lucky, over the past 17+ years that I have owned rats (which equals about 38 rats) I have only spent about $700.00 in actual vet bills.
I used to work at a vets & also have frineds that work in vets so I get *some* items cheap. Also I have many other animals & sometimes their left over meds can be used on the ratties so that saves me some. But even if I were to pay full price for those items it is probably only about $250-$350 more.
I would say just about $1000.00 give or take a little bit. Thats not bad for the amount of years & number of rats I have had.

I have also been very lucky as an emergancy has never occured after hours, that saves a bunch of money!

Some of my rats have come from shelters, pet stores, breeders etc.. And I have been very lucky to get mostly helathy ones. I have only had a handful that had myco & with the litter I use & keep everything clean I managed to have very little flair ups with them therefore little vet treatment.

I think overall rats are fairly easy to keep & fairly cheap. Their love makes up for any mishaps anyways LOL! They truely are great pets.