Most and Least Expensive States for Pet Owners in 2026

Updated: March 4, 2026

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Pet ownership costs $681 more per year in California than in Oklahoma, a gap that adds up to more than $8,100 over a pet's lifetime (based on a 12-year lifespan). Americans in Oklahoma spend $2,462 annually on a dog and cat combined, while Californians pay $3,143.

But raw costs aren't the whole picture. Mississippi pet owners spend 5% of their household income on pets, making it the least affordable state despite moderate costs. Utah is the most affordable at 2.5%.

MoneyGeek analyzed annual pet ownership costs across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., covering six expense categories: veterinary care, pet insurance, food, boarding, grooming and licensing. Dog costs carry a 60% weight and cat costs 40% in the composite rankings, since more U.S. households own dogs than cats

Great Plains and Midwest states take nine of the 10 most affordable spots. West Coast and Northeastern states dominate the expensive end. The national average runs $2,752 annually.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Oklahoma is the cheapest state for pet owners at $2,462 annually; California is the most expensive at $3,143.
Dogs cost about 38% more to own than cats, averaging $3,091 a year versus $2,242. Higher insurance premiums, boarding and food drive most of the difference.
Pet insurance is the biggest cost driver, accounting for 25% of total expenses and varying by more than $400 annually between states.
Utah is the most affordable state relative to income (2.5%); Mississippi ranks least affordable (5%).
Southern states pay about 20% more for preventive medications due to year-round parasite exposure.

Most Affordable States for Pet Owners

Pet owners in the Great Plains and Midwest pay less across the board. Lower vet prices and cheaper pet insurance push annual costs under $2,550.

Oklahoma is the cheapest at $2,462 a year. Dog insurance runs $535 and cat insurance $291, both well below national averages. North Dakota and Montana aren't far off at $2,467 and $2,491. None of the five cheapest states breaks $2,550.

Top 5 Cheapest States


1	Oklahoma	$2,462	$2,759	$2,016	3.8%
2	North Dakota	$2,467	$2,757	$2,031	2.8%
3	Montana	$2,491	$2,787	$2,047	3%
4	Alabama	$2,505	$2,803	$2,057	3.8%
5	Iowa	$2,509	$2,807	$2,062	2.9%

Nine of the 10 cheapest states are in the Great Plains, Midwest, South or Mountain West: Oklahoma, North Dakota, Montana, Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, West Virginia and New Mexico. Lower costs of living push veterinary services, boarding and grooming 20% to 30% below coastal state prices. Pet insurance runs lower for the same reason, since insurers price policies based on local claim costs.

Most Expensive States for Pet Owners

California is the most expensive state for pet owners at $3,143 annually. Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and Vermont all exceed $3,000.

Pet insurance premiums push California's costs higher. Dog insurance runs $809 a year, compared to $535 in Oklahoma. Routine dog exams average $146 in California versus $61 in lower-cost states.

California's average boarding rate of $60 per night is nearly double Oklahoma's $36. Pet owners who board their dog seven nights a year pay $168 more annually for that alone.

Top 5 Most Expensive States


51	California	$3,143	$3,541	$2,546	3.1%
50	Massachusetts	$3,080	$3,479	$2,481	2.7%
49	Washington, D.C.	$3,067	$3,445	$2,499	2.9%
48	New Jersey	$3,065	$3,447	$2,493	3%
47	Vermont	$3,019	$3,397	$2,452	3.5%

Pet Costs Relative to Income

Cost alone doesn't measure affordability. MoneyGeek calculated pet costs as a percentage of median household income using 2024 Census data. Utah leads at 2.5% of income spent on pets annually.

Mississippi is the least affordable at 5%, double Utah's rate.

Most Affordable States by Income Share


1	Utah	2.5%	$2,605	$104,000
2	New Hampshire	2.6%	$2,878	$111,800
3	Maryland	2.6%	$2,872	$109,700
4	Massachusetts	2.7%	$3,080	$113,900
5	Colorado	2.7%	$2,903	$106,500

Massachusetts shows how income changes the rankings. It ranks second-most expensive overall at $3,080 annually but fourth-most affordable relative to income. A $113,900 median household income makes that figure manageable.

Least Affordable States by Income Share


51	Mississippi	5%	$2,810	$55,980
50	Louisiana	4.7%	$2,844	$60,740
49	Arkansas	4.3%	$2,767	$64,840
48	West Virginia	4%	$2,548	$63,150
47	New Mexico	4%	$2,548	$64,140

*Rankings reflect each state's overall affordability position out of 51 jurisdictions, where rank 51 is the least affordable.

Mississippi pet owners spend 5% of their median household income on pets, double Utah's rate. Across Southern and Appalachian states, lower median incomes stretch even moderate pet costs further.

How Much Does a Dog Cost vs. a Cat?

Dogs cost more to own than cats in every state. The national average runs $3,091 per year for dogs and $2,242 for cats, a 38% gap driven by insurance premiums, boarding and food.

Dog premiums average $634 a year nationally, compared to $351 for cats. Dogs average seven boarding nights a year at $43 per night ($301 total), while cats average five nights at $215.

Food costs average $750 for dogs versus $500 for cats. Vet bills run $677 a year for dogs versus $479 for cats.

What Drives Pet Cost Differences?

Four expense categories drive the biggest state-to-state gaps. Pet insurance shows the most variation. Veterinary care tracks regional cost-of-living differences closely; boarding and grooming move with local service prices. Food shows the least movement across states.

Pet Insurance Premiums

Pet insurance is the biggest cost driver, accounting for 25% of total expenses. Despite that, it still covers only a small share of U.S. dogs and cats nationally, even as gross written premiums have more than doubled since 2020, according to MoneyGeek's pet insurance market penetration study.

Dog insurance premiums range from $430 a year in Arkansas to $833 in Massachusetts. Cat premiums run $235 in Arkansas to $449 in Massachusetts. Insurers price policies based on local veterinary costs and claim frequency.

Veterinary Care

Routine exam costs differ sharply by state. Dog exams run $61 in Alabama and up to $146 in California. Cat exam costs track similarly.

Preventive medications add to the regional gap. Southern states with warm, humid climates require year-round heartworm, tick and flea treatments.

Boarding and Grooming

Boarding rates run from $31 per night in Mississippi to $62 in Washington, D.C. The analysis assumes seven boarding nights a year for dogs and five for cats. Dog grooming costs range from $281 annually in lower-cost states to $366 in pricier markets.

Food Costs

Pet food shows the least variation across states but still shifts when adjusted for local price levels. Costs are estimated using BEA Regional Price Parities and state-specific inflation data where available.

WHY SOUTHERN STATES COST MORE

Warm, humid climates require year-round parasite prevention. Southern pet owners spend about 20% more on heartworm, tick and flea medications than owners in regions where seasonal prevention is sufficient.

MoneyGeek applies a 20% preventive medication premium to 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Western and Mountain states have lower parasite pressure, and a 10% discount applies to 13 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Strategies to Manage Pet Costs

Location affects what you pay, but not what you can negotiate. Comparison shopping, bundling services and buying in bulk can cut costs in any state.

1
Pet Insurance
Get pet insurance quotes from multiple providers before committing. Premiums can differ by hundreds of dollars between insurers in the same state, and many offer multi-pet or annual payment discounts.
2
Wellness Plans
Wellness plans that bundle routine care often cost less than paying separately for annual exams, vaccines and preventive medications.
3
Boarding and Licensing
Boarding rates vary significantly by facility, so shop around. Also, check local licensing requirements. Fees range from $0 to $50 for dogs and $0 to $20 for cats.

Across all states, pet ownership costs average 3.4% of median household income. Preventive vet visits are one of the most effective ways to manage long-term expenses. Catching health issues early costs far less than treating emergencies.

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed annual pet ownership costs for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., modeling a standard dog and cat across six expense categories, using state-specific data where available and national baselines adjusted by regional price indices elsewhere.

Annual Cost figures represent the weighted average of dog and cat costs for a household owning both (60% dog, 40% cat), reflecting national pet ownership patterns. Cost as % of Income is each state's Annual Cost divided by FRED median household income.

Complete Pet Ownership Cost Rankings: All 50 States Plus Washington, D.C.

The table below shows annual pet ownership costs for all 51 jurisdictions, ranked from most to least affordable. Annual Cost represents the weighted average for a household with both a dog and cat (60% dog, 40% cat). Cost as % of Income divides Annual Cost by FRED median household income.


1	Oklahoma	$2,462	$2,759	$2,016	3.8%
2	North Dakota	$2,467	$2,757	$2,031	2.8%
3	Montana	$2,491	$2,787	$2,047	3%
4	Alabama	$2,505	$2,803	$2,057	3.8%
5	Iowa	$2,509	$2,807	$2,062	2.9%
6	Kentucky	$2,517	$2,814	$2,070	3.9%
7	Missouri	$2,526	$2,822	$2,081	3.2%
8	South Dakota	$2,534	$2,837	$2,081	3.2%
9	West Virginia	$2,548	$2,856	$2,086	4%
10	New Mexico	$2,548	$2,853	$2,091	4%
11	Ohio	$2,553	$2,871	$2,076	3.2%
12	Indiana	$2,566	$2,879	$2,097	3.3%
13	Nebraska	$2,581	$2,897	$2,107	3%
14	Kansas	$2,581	$2,899	$2,104	2.9%
15	Utah	$2,605	$2,922	$2,131	2.5%
16	Idaho	$2,629	$2,958	$2,136	3.2%
17	Michigan	$2,634	$2,964	$2,139	3.3%
18	Tennessee	$2,641	$2,971	$2,147	3.5%
19	Wisconsin	$2,661	$2,994	$2,162	3.2%
20	South Carolina	$2,666	$2,997	$2,168	3.5%
21	North Carolina	$2,669	$2,997	$2,177	4%
22	Georgia	$2,699	$3,029	$2,204	3.3%
23	Nevada	$2,720	$3,056	$2,216	3.4%
24	Alaska	$2,720	$3,053	$2,221	3%
25	Rhode Island	$2,726	$3,061	$2,224	3%
26	Delaware	$2,739	$3,079	$2,229	3.2%
27	Pennsylvania	$2,752	$3,096	$2,236	3.4%
28	Arkansas	$2,767	$3,107	$2,256	4.3%
29	Minnesota	$2,785	$3,124	$2,277	3%
30	Texas	$2,793	$3,143	$2,268	3.4%
31	Mississippi	$2,810	$3,165	$2,276	5%
32	Maine	$2,820	$3,180	$2,281	3.1%
33	Virginia	$2,828	$3,178	$2,305	2.9%
34	Louisiana	$2,844	$3,202	$2,306	4.7%
35	Wyoming	$2,863	$3,216	$2,333	3.6%
36	Arizona	$2,866	$3,233	$2,314	3.4%
37	Maryland	$2,872	$3,213	$2,361	2.6%
38	New Hampshire	$2,878	$3,242	$2,332	2.6%
39	Connecticut	$2,881	$3,248	$2,329	2.9%
40	Colorado	$2,903	$3,269	$2,355	2.7%
41	Florida	$2,915	$3,285	$2,360	3.9%
42	Illinois	$2,915	$3,287	$2,357	3.5%
43	Oregon	$2,975	$3,347	$2,417	3.3%
44	New York	$2,987	$3,356	$2,434	3.4%
45	Hawaii	$2,990	$3,355	$2,443	3%
46	Washington	$3,012	$3,377	$2,464	3.1%
47	Vermont	$3,019	$3,397	$2,452	3.5%
48	New Jersey	$3,065	$3,447	$2,493	3%
49	Washington, D.C.	$3,067	$3,445	$2,499	2.9%
50	Massachusetts	$3,080	$3,479	$2,481	2.7%
51	California	$3,143	$3,541	$2,546	3.1%

About This Study

MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis looks at how location affects the cost of owning dogs and cats across America, drawing on state-level pet insurance data, veterinary cost research and regional price indices.

For methodology questions or media inquiries, contact MoneyGeek.

About Nathan Paulus

Nathan Paulus is the Head of Content at MoneyGeek, where he conducts original data analysis and oversees editorial strategy for insurance and personal finance coverage. He has published hundreds of data-driven studies analyzing insurance markets, consumer costs and coverage trends over the past decade. His research combines statistical analysis with accessible financial guidance for millions of readers annually.

Paulus earned his B.A. in English from the University of St. Thomas, Houston.

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sources

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CareCredit. "Costs of Owning a Dog." Accessed March 17, 2026.
Goose. "Pet Boarding Prices Research 2025." Accessed March 17, 2026.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. "Regional Price Parities by State and Metro Area." Accessed March 17, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau. "2024 American Community Survey: Median Household Income by State." Accessed March 17, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau. "Income in the United States: 2024." Accessed March 17, 2026.