the prices for frozen rats are fairly decent its the cost of shipping that hikes it up so much. the suppliers have to package the rats with dry ice so they stay frozen until they get to you.
i feed live and although theres been a couple close calls they've only been close calls cuz i'm always right there literally ready to spring in and interfere if needed. once i sit down to a feeding i do not move out of the chair until my girl has finished swallowing and is settling down in one of her hide boxes.
and theres a sticky with a list of websites for frozen rodents on the general feeders forum...
the only 2 i know of off the top of my head are
www.micedirect.com &
www.rodentpro.com (although i personally like the looks of rodent pro. it shows size comparisons of each size & they have a wide variety of frozen prey.)
good luck.