Dog breeds / Giant breeds

What a Saint Bernard really costs

Saint Bernards weigh as much as an adult person, and half the hips OFA has scored in the breed are dysplastic, so orthopedic surgery is a real possibility. Bone cancer and bloat add risk over an 8-10 year life, and food, drool cleanup and climate control add steady costs.

Size: Giant, 120–180 lb
Life expectancy: 8–10 years
Grooming: Moderate
Insurance risk: High
Puppy price: $1,500–$2,500
Food a day: About 2,590 calories

Lifetime cost$53,400 First year $9,190Then about $5,470 a year

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Saint Bernard with mainstream food, a groomer, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $2,480 more than the median breed.

Illness and injury (average)$2,039
Food$1,341
Grooming$469
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$457
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$330
Treats and chews$268
Dental cleanings$213
License$20
Typical year$5,470

Most years land between $3,560 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $7,940 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 5 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.

The first year

Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.

Bringing a puppy home

Breeder price$2,000
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$900
Spay or neuter$760
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$3,860

Running costs in year one

Food$1,341
Treats and chews$268
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$457
Grooming$469
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$2,039
Year-one running costs$5,330

First-year total: $9,190. Adopting instead brings it to about $6,170.

Health costs to plan for

No insurer premium data was found for the breed; the tier reflects OFA's 50% hip dysplasia rate, an osteosarcoma rate about 12 times the dog average, and giant-breed bloat risk.

Condition	How it affects Saint Bernards	Typical treatment	Cost
Hip dysplasia	49.9% of 2,970 Saint Bernard hip evaluations at OFA were graded dysplastic, the eighth-worst rate of any breed. Source	Total hip replacement, per hip (femoral head ostectomy is a cheaper $1,200-$3,000 option)	$3,500–$15,000
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)	Nationwide claims data put Saint Bernard osteosarcoma prevalence at 4.12% versus 0.35% across all dogs. Source	Amputation and chemotherapy; Trupanion's average sarcoma chemotherapy claim was $5,351 and full courses can reach $10,000-$30,000	$5,000–$30,000
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)	The Saint Bernard was one of the giant breeds in the JAVMA GDV cohort (26 cases per 1,000 dog-years), and AKC lists bloat as a breed risk. Source	Emergency GDV surgery; one MetLife claim example was $5,900	$2,000–$7,500
Cranial cruciate ligament tear	Giant-breed knees carry heavy loads, and giant-breed TPLO needs larger plates and more screws. Source	TPLO surgery (University of Missouri quoted $4,500-$5,000 for giant breeds in 2021; Lemonade gives up to $10,000 in 2026)	$4,500–$10,000

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $2,039 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.

What drives the cost of a Saint Bernard

With about half of OFA-scored Saints dysplastic, insist on OFA hip results for both parents; it is the best way to avoid a per-hip replacement bill of up to $15,000.
AKC warns that going from air conditioning into high heat can cause serious distress, so plan for cooling in summer and never leave a Saint in a parked car.
Feed slowly from a floor-level bowl; a JAVMA study tied about half of giant-breed bloat cases to raised feeders, and GDV surgery costs thousands.
Expect heavy drool and twice-yearly coat blows; long-haired Saints often need a professional de-shed every couple of months.
Giant-breed crates, ramps and SUV-sized transport are first-year costs, and a 160-lb dog may need two people to lift into a vet's car.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $1,500–$2,500
Rescue or shelter: $100–$300
Lifetime, from a breeder: $53,400
Lifetime, adopted: $50,400

Spot puts breeder puppies at $1,000-$2,500 and says reputable breeders charge up to $2,500; OFA-tested parents belong at the upper end. Spot gives typical shelter adoption at $100-$300.

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Leonberger$4,940 a year
Bernese Mountain Dog$4,980 a year
Great Dane$5,020 a year
Dogue de Bordeaux$5,040 a year
Mastiff$5,240 a year
Irish Wolfhound$5,260 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Saint Bernard puppy cost?

A Saint Bernard puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $1,500–$2,500. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $100–$300.

How much does a Saint Bernard cost per year?

After the first year, a Saint Bernard costs about $5,470 a year, or $456 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $3,560 to $7,940.

How much does a Saint Bernard cost over its lifetime?

About $53,400 over a 9-year life when bought from a breeder, or $50,400 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.