About PawBudget

PawBudget is an independent, free reference for the real cost of owning a pet in the US. We answer the questions people actually search — "how much does a Labrador cost over its life?", "is pet insurance worth it?", "how much is a dental cleaning for a dog?" — with clear, sourced numbers instead of vague ranges.

What we cover

• Cost by breed — first-year, annual and lifetime cost estimates for 22 dog breeds and 9 cat breeds, each with average lifespan and an insurance estimate.
• Pet insurance — average accident-and-illness and accident-only premiums, what's covered, and estimated premiums for 8 large states.
• Vet costs — typical US price ranges for 8 common procedures, from spay/neuter to ACL/TPLO surgery.
• A pet cost calculator — to build a personalised estimate from your own numbers.

How we work

Every recurring-cost figure is anchored to a named, published source — the ASPCA and APPA for annual and first-year care costs, NAPHIA for insurance premiums, and aggregated clinic and care-financing surveys for vet-procedure ranges. We do not invent precise figures.

The one number we compute is the lifetime cost estimate, using a single, transparent formula (first-year cost + average annual cost × (average lifespan − 1)). Because it relies on averages and excludes inflation and unpredictable major medical events, we label it an estimate everywhere it appears. Our full sources and the formula are on the methodology page.

Editorial independence & disclaimer

PawBudget is reader-supported through advertising. Ads never influence which figures we publish or how we calculate them. Pet costs are a money- and health-adjacent topic: everything here is general information, not veterinary, insurance or financial advice. Always confirm current prices with your own vet and get real quotes before buying insurance. See our disclaimer.

Contact

Questions, corrections or a figure that looks off? Get in touch — we update sources as new data is published.