8 Recommended Pets & Plants for Living Alone | Comparison of Time and Cost

Many people living alone want a pet but worry about long working hours, limited living space, and other challenges. Here we introduce 8 pets that work well for single-person households, evaluated across three key factors: "care effort," "cost," and "ease of being left alone."

Selection Criteria

• Care effort: Daily care that requires minimal time
• Cost: Relatively low initial setup and ongoing expenses
• Ease of being left alone: Can manage 8-10 hours of daytime absence

1. Hamster

• Effort: Minimal. Nocturnal, so sleeps during the day—perfect for leaving during work hours
• Cost: Initial cost ~¥7,000–20,000, ongoing ~¥1,000–2,500/month
• Being left alone: Excellent. Can manage 1 day with extra food and water
• Notes: Short lifespan of 2-3 years. Requires temperature control in summer

2. Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

• Effort: Minimal. Feeding only once every 2-3 days
• Cost: Initial cost ~¥15,000–40,000 (animal + enclosure + heating equipment), ongoing ~¥1,000–2,000/month
• Being left alone: Excellent. Can manage 2-3 days of absence
• Notes: Requires heating pad for temperature control. Best for those comfortable with live insect food (crickets, etc.)

3. Betta (Tropical Fish)

• Effort: Minimal. Feed 1-2 times daily, water change weekly
• Cost: Initial cost ~¥5,000–15,000 (animal + small tank + heater), ongoing ~¥500–1,000/month