Annual Pet Cost Report 2026
The most comprehensive analysis of pet ownership costs across 290+ breeds in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Covering vet fees, food, insurance, grooming, and more — broken down by breed, region, and life stage.
Key Findings
2025–2026 Trends
Vet costs are rising faster than everything else
US veterinary service prices rose 7.8% in the twelve months to September 2025, against 3.0% for the all-items index — more than double general inflation. Pet food and treats rose just 0.5% over the same period, so the pressure on pet budgets is concentrated almost entirely in clinical care.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI: veterinary services, September 2025
Insurance is growing fast but still covers very few pets
7.03 million pets were insured across North America at the end of 2024, up 20.9% in a year — yet that is still only about 4% of dogs and cats. Average US premiums ran $749.29 a year for dogs and $386.47 for cats. Rapid growth and low penetration are both true at once, and most owners are still self-insuring by default.
Source: North American Pet Health Insurance Association, 2025 State of the Industry Report
Owners are cutting back, but not on the pets themselves
US pet industry spending reached $158 billion in 2025, up 3.7% year on year, while 22% of owners reported reducing their spending during the year. Spending is shifting away from discretionary products toward essential care rather than falling outright.
Source: American Pet Products Association, 2026 State of the Industry Report
Most owners are unprepared for a single bad day
Four in five owners have faced an unexpected veterinary expense, averaging $1,100, and 15% have faced one of $3,000 or more. Nearly 90% have no dedicated savings for pet costs, and 35% have delayed or declined treatment because of money. This is the gap an emergency fund is meant to close.
Source: MetLife Pet Insurance, The True Cost of Pet Emergencies
Sources
Every external statistic in this report is listed below with its publisher, sample size and publication date. Figures described as our own estimates are calculated from this site's cost model — set out on the methodology page — and are not survey research. We do not conduct our own owner surveys.
- Synchrony — 2025 Pet Lifetime of Care StudyNearly 8 in 10 pet owners underestimate lifetime cost of care; lifetime cost $22,125–$60,602 for dogs and $20,073–$47,106 for cats over 15 years; 74% faced an unexpected cost above $250; 31% could comfortably absorb a major pet expense.Published 2025-06 · 4,861 US pet owners surveyed 31 Jan – 22 Feb 2025, weighted to US Census demographics · last checked 2026-09-02
- MetLife Pet Insurance — The True Cost of Pet Emergencies4 in 5 owners have faced an unexpected veterinary expense, averaging $1,100; 15% have spent $3,000 or more; nearly 90% have no dedicated pet savings; 35% have delayed or declined treatment on cost grounds.Published 2025-01-15 · 1,000 US pet owners · last checked 2026-09-02
- North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) — 2025 State of the Industry Report7.03 million pets insured in North America (+20.9% year on year); average US accident-and-illness premium of $749.29/year for dogs and $386.47/year for cats; penetration of roughly 4% of North American dogs and cats.Published 2025-04-22 · Industry-wide data for North America, year-end 2024 · last checked 2026-09-02
- American Pet Products Association (APPA) — 2026 State of the Industry ReportUS pet industry spending reached $158 billion in 2025, up 3.7% year on year, with 22% of owners reducing spending during the year.Published 2026-03-26 · US pet industry aggregate spending · last checked 2026-09-02
- Morris Animal Foundation — Golden Retriever Lifetime StudyMore than 60% of Golden Retrievers die of cancer. The study tracks hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma and high-grade mast cell tumours.Published 2022 · 3,044 privately owned Golden Retrievers enrolled from 2012, followed for life · last checked 2026-09-02
- Royal Veterinary College (VetCompass) — Study identifies cancers as health priority in Boxer dogsCancer is the most common cause of death in Boxers and the breed's leading health priority; roughly one in seven Boxers is diagnosed with cancer annually.Published 2023 · UK primary-care veterinary records via the VetCompass programme · last checked 2026-09-02
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Price Index), as reported by GlobalPETS — CPI: veterinary services, September 2025Veterinary services rose 7.8% in the twelve months to September 2025, against 3.0% for the all-items index; pet food and treats rose 0.5%.Published 2025-11-25 · US urban consumer price index · last checked 2026-09-02
Most Expensive Breeds (First Year)
Ranked from our live breed database · US baseline costs
Most Affordable Breeds (First Year)
Ranked from our live breed database · dogs & cats · US baseline costs
Regional Cost Comparison
Annual running cost for a Golden Retriever (medium dog, excl. first-year setup) by region, using the location multipliers applied in our calculator.
Base annual cost: $3,005 (Golden Retriever, US national average). Regional multipliers from our methodology.
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About This Report
The Annual Pet Cost Report is published by PetCost-Calculator. It combines two clearly separated things. External statistics on veterinary inflation, insurance and owner behaviour come from the published research listed under Sources above — we do not run our own owner surveys, and nothing in this report should be read as original survey research. Breed-level cost figures are our own estimates, produced by the cost model that powers the calculator and described in full on our methodology page. Each edition is dated, and figures shown for previous years represent the data as it stood at the time of that edition's publication.
All cost figures are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise stated. The regional comparison applies the calculator's own location multipliers to the US baseline: they range from 1.00× for the US national average to 1.35× for Singapore, and every one of them is published in the table on our methodology page. These multipliers are estimates that adjust for typical regional differences in veterinary fees, food pricing and grooming rates; they are not a measured index, and the model currently applies no discount below the US national average.
Figures in this report represent planning estimates and averages across a population of owners and regions. Individual costs will vary based on the specific pet's health, the owner's location, insurance choices, and care preferences. For a personalised estimate tailored to your breed and location, use our free cost calculator.