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The short answer: a dog costs about $4,500 in the first year and about $2,500 a year after that, by the estimate Adopt-a-Pet cites. Your number depends on size, where you live, and whether a surprise vet bill hits. Put in your own costs below.
The average dog accident-and-illness policy costs about $70 a month ($840 a year). Policies pay part of a covered bill after a deductible, not all of it.
Where the default numbers come from
The starting numbers sit inside the ranges Adopt-a-Pet publishes for dog costs: adoption $100 to $800, first exam and vaccines $350 to $450, spay or neuter $200 to $700, crate $100 to $200, food $120 to $900 a year, routine vet care $750 to $1,750 a year, parasite prevention $90 to $150 a year. The $70-a-month insurance figure is NerdWallet's 2026 average for dogs. A puppy from a breeder can cost many times our $500 default. Change any number. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Sources: Adopt-a-Pet, "How much does it cost to own a dog" (2025). NerdWallet, "How much is pet insurance" (July 2026).
How to make year one cheaper
- Adopt. Shelter fees often include the first vaccines, the microchip and the spay or neuter.
- Ask your vet about a puppy wellness package that bundles the vaccine visits.
- Buy the adult-size crate with a divider, once.
- Set aside a vet fund every month, whether or not you buy insurance.
- Price insurance while your puppy is young and healthy. Conditions that show up before you enroll are usually not covered.
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