What will your pet really cost?
The animal is the small part. See what 155 pets cost to set up, the first year, every year after and over their whole lives, from guinea pigs and geckos to Great Danes, built from real 2026 US prices.
From the cheapest pet we price to the most expensive, once you're set up. See every pet
Pick a kind of pet
The cheapest typical year in each group, once you're set up. More pets are added every day.
Dogs115 breedsFrom $2,060 a year
CatsHouse cats and 6 breedsFrom $1,290 a year
Small petsChinchillas, Ferrets, Gerbils and 4 moreFrom $520 a year
BirdsAfrican grey parrots, Budgies, Cockatiels and 4 moreFrom $540 a year
Reptiles and amphibiansBall pythons, Bearded dragons, Corn snakes and 4 moreFrom $540 a year
FishAfrican cichlids, Angelfish, Betta fish and 4 moreFrom $120 a year
Insects and invertebratesEmperor scorpions, Land hermit crabs, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and 2 moreFrom $60 a year
Cheapest pets to own
- Praying mantis$60 a year
- Tarantula$70 a year
- Madagascar hissing cockroach$70 a year
- Emperor scorpion$100 a year
- Goldfish$120 a year
- Guppies$130 a year
The priciest of each kind
- Saint Bernard$5,470 a year
- Guinea pig$2,170 a year
- Persian$1,790 a year
- African grey parrot$1,410 a year
- Bearded dragon$1,080 a year
- African cichlids$330 a year
- Land hermit crab$140 a year
What a typical year costs, by kind of pet
The middle of each group, with its cheapest and priciest. Setup is extra, and for tanks and enclosures it's often more than the animal.
Before you bring a pet home
The cheapest pets to own
Every pet we price, ranked by what a typical year costs once you're set up.
Pet cost calculator
Pick any pet, then change food, setup, insurance and where you live to see your own first-year, yearly and lifetime cost.
How much does a dog cost?
A typical US dog costs about $2,580 a year and $32,000 over its life. See first-year costs, how size changes the bill, and the cheapest and priciest breeds.
First-year puppy costs: a checklist with prices
A breeder puppy costs $4,100 to $10,500 in year one, an adopted dog far less. A checklist of every first-year dog cost with typical 2026 US prices.
Is pet insurance worth it for a dog?
Pet insurance costs more than it pays back on average, but it caps a $5,000 bill. Insured vs uninsured costs for 7 breeds, and when a policy makes sense.
How we estimate costs
The same sourced US prices across every pet, and every assumption written down.