While the love of a dog is priceless, the cost of dog ownership is not. In fact, more than one in three dog owners (39.29%) have lived on a tighter budget to afford their dogs’ expenses, according to a recent Forbes Advisor survey.
In some parts of the country, dog-related expenses make up a higher percentage of the median household income, causing a greater financial burden for dog owners.
To find out which cities are the most (and least) expensive for dog ownership, Forbes Advisor uncovered the percentage of household income required to cover dog-related expenses in the 78 most populated cities with available data.
They examined the percentage of household income required to cover both essential dog expenses (including veterinary costs, pet insurance premiums and boarding fees for a seven-day vacation) and doggy daycare for those who rely on it (assuming that dog owners take a dog to daycare twice per week for 48 weeks).
Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Own a Dog
1. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem’s score: 100.00 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,533
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,784
Winston-Salem tops the list of most expensive cities for owning a dog due, in part, to boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums that make up the highest percentage of household income among the cities that were considered (2.67%).
Winston-Salem also ranked fourth worst for the percentage of household income required to cover doggy daycare expenses (4.85%).
2. Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro’s score: 97.84 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,546
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,592
Greensboro is tied with a nearby city, Winston-Salem, for having dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums that make up the highest percentage of household income among the cities that were considered (2.67%).
Doggy daycare expenses in Greensboro also comprise 4.48% of the median household income, the 15th highest amount among the cities on the list.
3. Bakersfield, Calif.
Bakersfield’s score: 97.19 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,536
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,688
Dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums in Bakersfield make up 2.64% of the median household income (the third-highest amount), and doggy daycare expenses make up 4.62% of the median household income (the seventh-highest amount).
4. El Paso, Texas
El Paso’s score: 95.75 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,323
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,496
Doggy daycare expenses in El Paso make up the third-highest percentage of household income (4.89%), while dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums make up the fifth-highest percentage of household income (2.59%).
5. Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis’ score: 94.25 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,418
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,688
Memphis ranked fifth worst for the percentage of household income required to cover doggy day care expenses (4.81%) and sixth worst for the percentage of household income required to cover dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums (2.54%).
6. New York City
New York City’s score: 92.95 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $2,211
- Annual doggy day care expense: $3,648
Dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums in New York City comprise 2.62% of the median household income, the fourth-highest amount among the cities that were considered.
7. New Orleans
New Orleans’s score: 92.82 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,382
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,880
Doggy daycare expenses in New Orleans make up the highest percentage of household income among the cities on the list (5.07%).
New Orleans also ranked eighth worst for the percentage of household income required to cover dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums (2.43%).
8. North Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas’s score: 89.94 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,514
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,880
North Las Vegas ranked ninth worst for the percentage of household income required to cover dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums (2.38%).
North Las Vegas is also tied with two other Nevada cities (Las Vegas and Henderson) and Stockton, California for having doggy daycare expenses that make up the 10th highest percentage of household income (4.52%).
9. Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson’s score: 89.22 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,439
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,784
Tucson ranked eighth worst for the percentage of household income required to cover doggy daycare expenses (4.59%).
Tucson also tied with St. Petersburg, Florida, and Las Vegas for dog boarding fees, veterinary costs and pet insurance premiums that make up the 10th highest percentage of household income (2.37%).
10. Las Vegas
Las Vegas’s score: 88.83 out of 100
- Annual cost of dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance: $1,508
- Annual doggy day care expense: $2,880
Las Vegas ranked 10th worst for both the percentage of household income required to cover doggy day care expenses (4.52%) and the percentage of household income required to cover dog boarding, veterinary care and pet insurance costs (2.37%).
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
