What does a pet really cost?
The sortable cost & care database for every breed — food, vet, insurance and lifetime cost, localized by country. Built for the pets you can insure.
Choose a species
Why this database exists
Pet ownership is expensive. Most owners underestimate the true cost by 30–50%, discovering only at budget-check time that food, insurance, vet care, grooming and the forgotten costs (emergencies, dental, boarding) add up to $1,000–4,000 a year—and $15,000–55,000 over the pet's lifetime. NAPHIA pet insurance data and ASPCA cost surveys confirm this gap between expectation and reality.
PetCost turns transparent, peer-reviewed formulas into actionable data: every breed's food cost comes from your dog's weight via the veterinary RER/MER calorie formula (the same formula used by veterinary nutritionists). Insurance is modeled from NAPHIA national averages, adjusted by breed health-risk tier and size. Lifetime cost includes purchase price, first-year setup, annual spending, and the dog's average lifespan. No invented statistics—every figure is traceable to a published standard or source.
How to use this site
- Pick a species: Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, or guinea pigs. Each has its own cost model and sortable database.
- Sort by what matters to you: Find the cheapest to own, the ones that eat the least, the healthiest breeds, or the ones friendliest to apartments.
- Compare any two breeds: Head-to-head cost breakdown, food, insurance, lifespan and health profile.
- Localize to your country: Every breed's cost adjusts for local food prices, vet fees and currency. Pet insurance availability varies by country.
- Customize your estimate: Each breed page lets you untick insurance, grooming, or supplies you don't pay for, recalculating instantly.
- Read the guides and blog: Deep dives on food formulas, insurance math, hidden costs, and cross-species comparisons—written by our editorial team and checked against NAPHIA, AVMA, AKC and vet nutrition references.