I would have to say that an animal of that size, if kept properly, ie. proper temps, daily feedings, etc.. would probably cost at least $1000 a year to feed. However, most people see monitors as snakes, and only feed their animals once or twice a week, which is by no means how they feed in the wild. Monitors have fast metabolisms, and require a lot of food in order to help keep their metabolism up(along with proper temps). Once you start limiting the amount of food he is to burn off each day, its metabolism slows down, and it goes into a state of energy conservation, where feeding an animal only once or twice a week will result in a morbidly obese animal. Just look at all the obese savs and water monitors out there... and tell me that all of those keepers feed their animals daily.... I highly doubt it...
Smaller meals more frequently is alwasy better than large meals spaced days apart.
cheers,
bob
The Odatriad