Planet Zoo 2 animal tier list: four-species budget shortlist
Last verified 2026-10-14
AnimalsIn this Planet Zoo 2 food-cost tier list, Mountain Hare ranks first, followed by Plains Zebra, Lion and Western Lowland Gorilla. These four species are ordered by published food expenses. This is a limited budget comparison, not a ranking of all 136 animals.
Source-based editorial ranking, checked 14 October 2026. The four official species pages supply the figures; no playtest, guest-income experiment or whole-roster ranking is claimed.
Method and scope
Rank only these four terrestrial-habitat species by the official Periodic Food Expenses figure, lowest first. S, A, B and C mean first through fourth within this shortlist. Land is a separate planning reference and does not change the order. Equal food figures would share a rank; there are no ties here.
The shortlist covers four of the 136 official entries. The other 132 are unranked, including aquarium, flying and exhibit animals. These tiers do not measure popularity, welfare, conservation value or profit.
Food values use in-game currency. They are the website's species figures, not a verified daily bill or a total for your selected group. Acquisition costs, staff, construction, unlocks and guest income are outside this method.
Actual four-species ranking
| Rank / tier | Animal / official evidence | Periodic food expenses | Displayed land requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 / S | Mountain Hare | $121.00 | 200 m2 |
| 2 / A | Plains Zebra | $174.00 | 460 m2 |
| 3 / B | Lion | $1262.00 | 810 m2 |
| 4 / C | Western Lowland Gorilla | $1328.00 | 1160 m2 |
Land figures are displayed source values, not complete habitat specifications for every group. Additional adults increase space requirements; use the in-game population planner.
Use the shortlist for a budget decision
If published food expense is your first filter, inspect Mountain Hare and Plains Zebra before the two higher-cost entries. Their placement does not guarantee they are available to a new zoo or suit its climate.
Then check population composition, temperature, barriers, shelter, terrain and any climbing or water needs. Lion and gorilla remain valid choices when you can meet those requirements; a lower budget tier does not mean a worse animal.
Questions people ask
Which animal ranks first for food cost?
Mountain Hare, at $121.00 in-game currency, has the lowest published figure among these four. This does not establish the cheapest species in the full roster.
Is this an official or complete tier list?
It is an editorial four-species ranking using official figures. S through C are relative positions in this shortlist; the other 132 entries are unranked.
Do the food figures predict profit?
No. They omit group-specific bills, staff, construction, acquisition costs and income. Check your actual seasonal finances.