How much does a dog really cost?
Pick your breed and situation. We'll estimate first-year costs, annual costs, and lifetime cost — built from 2026 US survey data on food, vet care, insurance premiums, and more.
Premiums rise steeply with age — enrolling young locks in lower rates.
Vet costs run 25–50% higher in cities and coastal states.
Toggle to see your costs with and without coverage.
Estimated lifetime cost
$—
Annual breakdown
First year: .
Insurance vs. paying out of pocket
What happens if your dog has one $5,000 emergency in its lifetime?
With insurance
$—
Without insurance
$—
Your numbers at a glance
Ongoing, per year$—
Ongoing, per month$—
Insurance premium$—/mo
Suggested emergency fund$—
How we estimate. Annual care figures are midpoints of 2026 US surveys (ASPCA, Rover, World Animal Foundation). Insurance premiums are based on Insurify national averages (May 2026) and MoneyGeek/Compare.com breed and age data (Apr 2026), adjusted for age and location. Every dog is different — treat this as a planning estimate, not a quote. We are not licensed insurance advisors; compare real quotes before buying a policy.