Most and Least Expensive States for Pet Owners in 2026

Nathan Paulus -headshotNP
By Nathan Paulus
Edited by Venus Zoleta

Updated: April 28, 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.

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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.

    petInsurance icon
    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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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. 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. 2
    Wellness Plans

    Wellness plans that bundle routine care often cost less than paying separately for annual exams, vaccines and preventive medications.

  3. 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 headshot

Nathan Paulus is Head of Content and SEO at MoneyGeek, where he leads content strategy, produces original data research, and oversees the site's coverage across insurance, consumer costs, transportation safety, housing, public policy, and personal finance. He also performs expert reviews of published studies, assessing methodology, source quality, and factual accuracy before content reaches readers.

Research and Analysis

In nearly six years at MoneyGeek, Paulus has published more than 100 original studies and explanatory guides. His data work ranges from insurance rate analyses to broader consumer and public policy research. On the insurance side, his studies include 50-state comparisons of health care outcomes, costs, and access; an analysis of how uninsured rates track with state Medicaid expansion decisions and electoral patterns; full-coverage auto rate analyses across major insurers in all 50 states; and an examination of how premium trends relate to industry underwriting losses using combined ratio data from Fitch Ratings, AM Best, and Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI figures. Beyond insurance, his research covers vehicle pricing trends across the U.S. new car market, summer traffic fatality rates by state, homeowner underinsurance ratios using mortgage and policy data, and housing affordability across all 50 states.

His research has been cited by Bloomberg, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Fast Company, the San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today, and NBC Los Angeles, and referenced by leading universities including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Yale.

Career

Growing up, Paulus developed an early interest in personal finance through his grandmother, who emphasized saving over earning as the foundation of financial stability. That perspective shapes how he approaches making financial data accessible to general audiences.

Paulus joined MoneyGeek in July 2020 as Director of Content Marketing, leading the content team and directing data journalism production across insurance and personal finance verticals. He was promoted to Head of Marketing and Communications in December 2023, taking on broader responsibility for digital PR and communications strategy. He has held his current role as Head of Content and SEO since January 2025. Before MoneyGeek, he served as Director of Content Marketing and SEO at Ventrix Advertising, where he was part of a small team that built two content sites from the ground up, contributed to link-building programs that secured more than 1,500 unique referring domains within a year, and helped manage a marketing team of more than 20 people. Earlier, he spent two and a half years at ABUV Media progressing from Marketing Research Analyst to Senior Marketing Tactics Analyst, building his foundation in audience research, content strategy, and SEO.

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