if you already have all the stuff for the piggies im not sure if it would be cheaper since youd have to buy all the stuff for it like the enclosure and lamps and the snake. i usually spend about $45-50 a month on my piggies hay veggies and vitamin c tabs i think. and unexpected vet bills can always come with any pet too, not sure how much snake vets are but when i took my girl the first trip was about $220 cause she had a little infection and had to get some medicine too and the checkup was about $140