What is the average cost per month to maintain a goldfish as a pet?

I have one called murphy - He costs me roughly £4 a month just for his food but the initial costs may be higher for the tank / bowl and the stones plants etc!

the cost will also vary depending on weather you have an electric filter pump and lights or go for the bowl option.

I have both goldfish and tropical fish and run them both with electric filters and lighting. The total cost including food is around £10 month but I agree that the set up costs can vary depending on what type of tank you want.

Depends on the size of tank and how many fish you want to keep. Back in my student days we kept one in a glass wine bucket, with some pebbles, it was happy as Larry and lasted for years, the only costs were a few quid for food. Certainly brightened up the student halls :)

it isn't much i used to spend around £5 a month when i was young now i would equate that to around £10-£15 a month

Don't bother with goldfish, they die. Try White Cloud Mountain Minnows instead, cold water fish, very very hardy and you can have half a dozen in the same size tank as a single goldfish. Just promise me you'll ensure you'll have a filtered tank with a pump for oxygenated water...

If you already have a bowl or tank and the other bits and bobs, a goldfish is probably the cheapest pet to have, not much food to buy and no pet health insurance and so on. I used to have them but was so heartbroken whenever one died that I stopped keeping them. For some reason they would die if I was on holiday and the neighbour was looking after them, then we both felt guilt racked!

£2 a month, about a £1 for cleaning tank and £1 for extras like food etc

We use zooplus and get great deals on there. Free delivery over a certain amount too and they have offers from time to time. http://www.zooplus.co.uk