well im my pet shop, we sell rats in pairs for £16 and syrians are £8

i would personally say if you save up around £80 - £100 for a hamsters then you will have a nice size cage, all the items needed and the hamster its self.

for a rat i would prob say around £150 - £200 even ! to get nice size cage, items needed and the RATS (at least 2 but 3 is even better)

hamsters always enjoy a sand bath but rats cannot have one as the have very sensitive respiratory systems and sand will irritate their chests causing chest infections.

hope that helps you out

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animals are my life

i have:
2x dogs (rottweiler and a jug),
1x african grey parrot,
2x rosella parekeets
4x syrian hamsters (baby, mocha (wiggy), peaches and daisey),
2x winter white dwarfs (sunshine and harry),
1x female leaf insects (doesn't have a names),
1x female corn snake (awaiting eggs),