Estimate the costs of adopting and caring for a dog
Calculate the estimated cost of adopting and caring for your dog, including initial adoption fees, food, vet visits, and ongoing care.
A dog adoption cost calculator figures out how much money you will need to spend to adopt and care for a dog over a certain amount of time. It helps people who want to adopt a pet plan their budget by including the costs of adoption, setting up the pet, and ongoing care.
Our Dog Adoption Cost Calculator considers multiple cost factors based on dog size and timeframe:
Initial: ~$600
Annual: ~$800
Lower food & medication costs
Initial: ~$700
Annual: ~$1,000
Moderate costs across categories
Initial: ~$900
Annual: ~$1,300
Higher food & medical expenses
Initial costs: $700
Annual costs: $1,000 × 5 = $5,000
Total: $700 + $5,000 = $5,700
Result: A medium dog costs ≈ $5,700 over 5 years
Adoption fees, a first visit to the vet, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, microchipping, basic supplies like a bed, leash, bowls, toys, and food for the first few days.
The calculator includes regular care but not costs that come up in an emergency. Set aside $500 to $2000 each year for unexpected medical bills, or think about getting pet insurance.
Preventive care, regular grooming at home, buying food in bulk, training to stop bad behavior, and shopping for good quality supplies at a low price can all help you save a lot of money.
Yes! Costs for food, grooming, and veterinary care can be very different depending on where you live. Costs are usually higher in cities than in rural areas.
Pet insurance for dogs usually costs between $30 and $70 a month, depending on the breed and the coverage. It can help you save a lot of money on unexpected vet bills and give you peace of mind, even though it's not required.