Find out what a dog or cat really costs. Load typical costs for a cat or a small, medium, large or giant dog, adjust any line, and see a monthly pet budget, the first-year cost with adoption and setup, and the lifetime cost over the years ahead.
Last updated:
Your pet
Sets the typical lifespan. Use the chips above to load typical costs.
years
0 for a new puppy or kitten.
years
Leave blank for a typical lifespan for the pet type.
%
Applied to future years of the lifetime total.
Monthly costs
$/ mo
$/ mo
$/ mo
$/ mo
0 if you will self-insure.
Yearly costs
$/ yr
$/ yr
$/ yr
$/ yr
$/ yr
One-time costs for a new pet
Turn off if you already have the pet.
$one-time
$one-time
$one-time
$one-time
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Pet Cost Calculator
Click a pet chip (Cat, Small, Medium, Large or Giant dog) to load typical costs, then pick the same pet type.
Enter your pet's age and, if you like, its expected lifespan (blank uses a typical value).
Edit the monthly and yearly costs to match your food brand, vet prices and insurance quote.
Keep the setup costs on for a new pet, or turn them off if you already own the pet.
Read the monthly budget, first-year and lifetime cost, and download the tables as CSV.
First year = annual cost + adoption + spay/neuter + first vaccines & microchip + starter supplies
Lifetime = setup costs + the sum of each remaining year's cost, raised by the yearly price increase
Typical cost presets compared
Starting values loaded by the pet chips, in today's prices. They are example budgets, not survey averages: vet and grooming prices vary widely by city.
Pet
Monthly budget
Per year
Setup (year 1)
Typical lifespan
Lifetime (today's $)
Cat
$164
$1,970
$750
15 years
$30,300
Small dog
$218
$2,615
$1,100
14 years
$37,710
Medium dog
$265
$3,185
$1,250
12 years
$39,470
Large dog
$333
$4,000
$1,450
11 years
$45,450
Giant dog
$430
$5,155
$1,800
9 years
$48,195
Ways to keep pet costs down
Adopt from a shelter. Adoption fees often include spay/neuter, first vaccines and a microchip.
Keep up with prevention. Vaccines, parasite prevention and dental care are far cheaper than treating the problems they prevent.
Buy food in larger bags and compare the price per pound, but check the feeding amount so you don't overfeed.
Learn basic grooming such as brushing and nail trims to space out professional appointments.
Get insurance quotes early. Premiums are usually lower for young pets, and pre-existing conditions are generally excluded.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dog cost per month?
With this calculator's typical figures, ongoing costs are about $218 a month for a small dog, $265 for a medium dog, $333 for a large dog and $430 for a giant breed, including food, insurance, routine vet care, prevention, grooming and some boarding. Your real cost depends mostly on food, insurance and how often you board or use a sitter.
How much does a cat cost per year?
The typical cat preset comes to about $1,970 a year (about $164 a month): food, treats, litter, insurance, a yearly vet visit, parasite prevention, some pet sitting and supplies. The first year adds about $750 for adoption, spay or neuter, first vaccines and starter supplies.
What is the lifetime cost of a dog or cat?
Multiply the yearly cost by the remaining years and add any setup costs. In today's prices the presets give roughly $30,000 for a cat over 15 years and about $38,000 to $48,000 for a dog, depending on size. Price increases each year make the future-dollar total higher.
Why do bigger dogs cost more?
Large and giant dogs eat more food, need larger doses of flea, tick and heartworm medicine, cost more to spay or neuter and board, and usually have higher insurance premiums. Their shorter average lifespan partly offsets the higher yearly cost in the lifetime total.
Is the first year more expensive?
Yes. On top of the regular costs, a new pet needs an adoption or purchase fee, spay or neuter surgery, a series of puppy or kitten vaccines, a microchip and basic gear such as a crate, bed, bowls, leash or carrier.
Is pet insurance worth including?
Insurance turns large, unpredictable vet bills into a fixed monthly cost. If you skip it, enter 0 and keep a separate emergency fund; the calculator suggests about half a year of pet costs, with a $1,000 minimum, as a starting point.
What lifespan does the calculator assume?
When the lifespan field is blank it uses rough typical values: 15 years for a cat, 14 for a small dog, 12 for a medium dog, 11 for a large dog and 9 for a giant breed. Individual pets vary a lot, so enter your own estimate for your breed.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.