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Cost of owning a dog in Australia

Lifetime and food cost for 272 dogs, localized to AUD.

The cheapest dog to own in Australia is the Japanese Chin (~A$25,775 lifetime). All costs in AUD. Pet insurance is widely available in Australia.
Cheapest dogs to own in Australia (AUD)
A$26kJapaneseA$28kEnglishA$29kRussianA$30kDanish-SwedishA$30kToyA$31kJagdterrier

Chart: the six cheapest dogs to own in Australia, by total lifetime cost.

#BreedSizeFood/yrLifetime
1Japanese ChinSmallA$325A$25,775
2English Toy SpanielSmallA$370A$28,285
3Russian ToySmallA$235A$28,655
4Danish-Swedish FarmdogSmallA$530A$29,540
5Toy Fox TerrierSmallA$205A$30,170
6JagdterrierSmallA$580A$30,540
7Boston TerrierSmallA$555A$30,545
8Russell TerrierSmallA$405A$30,825
9ChihuahuaSmallA$190A$30,940
10Miniature Bull TerrierSmallA$655A$31,000
11Miniature PinscherSmallA$325A$31,020
12SchipperkeSmallA$425A$31,125
13Lancashire HeelerSmallA$425A$31,370
14BologneseSmallA$265A$31,420
15Portuguese Podengo PequenoSmallA$370A$31,470
16Norwich TerrierSmallA$405A$31,880
17Tibetan SpanielSmallA$405A$31,880
18Border TerrierSmallA$425A$32,190
19Australian TerrierSmallA$530A$32,505
20Japanese SpitzSmallA$530A$32,505
21Italian GreyhoundSmallA$365A$32,555
22Norfolk TerrierSmallA$390A$32,725
23Cirneco dell’EtnaSmallA$625A$32,900
24Scottish TerrierSmallA$585A$33,095
25AffenpinscherSmallA$310A$33,110
26PapillonSmallA$280A$33,220
27Brussels GriffonSmallA$325A$33,320
28Smooth Fox TerrierSmallA$510A$33,320
29Wire Fox TerrierSmallA$510A$33,320
30MudiSmallA$660A$33,395
31Cairn TerrierSmallA$440A$33,465
32Lakeland TerrierSmallA$525A$33,525
33Russian Tsvetnaya BolonkaSmallA$280A$33,785
34PekingeseSmallA$450A$33,790
35Parson Russell TerrierSmallA$470A$33,895
36Cesky TerrierSmallA$570A$34,140
37LöwchenSmallA$410A$34,245
38PugSmallA$500A$34,320
39Chinese CrestedSmallA$350A$34,330
40BasenjiSmallA$655A$34,445
41Silky TerrierSmallA$350A$34,745
42BeagleSmallA$700A$34,810
43Lhasa ApsoSmallA$470A$35,265
44Shetland SheepdogSmallA$585A$35,570
45Poodle (Miniature)SmallA$410A$35,595
46American Eskimo DogSmallA$600A$35,700
47Sealyham TerrierSmallA$660A$36,560
48MalteseSmallA$265A$36,600
49Shiba InuSmallA$585A$36,635
50Teddy Roosevelt TerrierSmallA$510A$36,640
51Bedlington TerrierSmallA$585A$36,805
52Welsh TerrierSmallA$585A$36,805
53HavaneseSmallA$350A$36,980
54Rat TerrierSmallA$530A$36,980
55Taiwan DogMediumA$860A$37,070
56Manchester Terrier (Toy)SmallA$405A$37,150
57Biewer TerrierSmallA$235A$37,395
58MaltipooSmallA$410A$37,850
59PomeranianSmallA$205A$37,965
60Bulldog (English)MediumA$1,080A$38,110
61Yorkshire TerrierSmallA$220A$38,230
62American Hairless TerrierSmallA$450A$38,465
63Treeing Tennessee BrindleMediumA$990A$38,490
64Braque du BourbonnaisMediumA$1,065A$38,660
65PumiMediumA$705A$38,970
66DachshundSmallA$675A$39,060
67Manchester Terrier (Standard)SmallA$525A$39,095
68French BulldogSmallA$630A$39,205
69ShikokuMediumA$1,080A$39,495
70Basset Fauve de BretagneMediumA$820A$39,655
71Dogue de BordeauxGiantA$2,035A$39,970
72Yakutian LaikaMediumA$1,125A$39,995
73Mountain CurMediumA$1,080A$40,425
74Pembroke Welsh CorgiMediumA$775A$40,585
75Dandie Dinmont TerrierSmallA$610A$41,220
76Poodle (Toy)SmallA$205A$41,235
77West Highland White TerrierSmallA$530A$41,555
78Icelandic SheepdogMediumA$745A$41,665
79Peruvian Inca OrchidMediumA$830A$41,965
80Kishu KenMediumA$1,080A$42,025
81Slovensky KopovMediumA$965A$42,200
82German Shepherd DogLargeA$1,505A$42,230
83Swedish VallhundMediumA$745A$42,310
84Karelian Bear DogMediumA$1,110A$42,390
85Nederlandse KooikerhondjeMediumA$700A$42,515
86Norwegian LundehundMediumA$700A$42,515
87Staffordshire Bull TerrierMediumA$820A$42,655
88Cavalier King Charles SpanielSmallA$485A$42,715
89American Water SpanielMediumA$895A$42,755
90German PinscherMediumA$895A$42,850
91Kai KenMediumA$800A$43,025
92Petit Basset Griffon VendéenMediumA$850A$43,050
93Tibetan TerrierSmallA$675A$43,165
94Irish TerrierMediumA$715A$43,315
95Miniature SchnauzerSmallA$485A$43,680
96WhippetMediumA$850A$43,745
97Flat-Coated RetrieverLargeA$1,430A$43,795
98Boykin SpanielMediumA$850A$43,815
99Field SpanielMediumA$1,035A$43,815
100SloughiMediumA$1,035A$43,815
101Irish WolfhoundGiantA$2,150A$43,915
102Cocker SpanielMediumA$700A$44,030
103Ibizan HoundMediumA$1,125A$44,195
104Swedish LapphundMediumA$940A$44,235
105Cardigan Welsh CorgiMediumA$830A$44,255
106German ShepherdLargeA$1,505A$44,315
107Finnish SpitzMediumA$730A$44,380
108Glen of Imaal TerrierMediumA$910A$44,575
109Norwegian BuhundMediumA$860A$44,665
110Shih TzuSmallA$410A$44,715
111English Cocker SpanielMediumA$800A$44,730
112Croatian SheepdogMediumA$925A$44,770
113Portuguese SheepdogMediumA$1,130A$45,050
114Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverMediumA$1,035A$45,420
115Chinese Shar-PeiLargeA$1,215A$45,480
116German Shorthaired PointerLargeA$1,300A$45,800
117BrittanyMediumA$895A$46,015
118English Springer SpanielMediumA$1,080A$46,015
119Soft Coated Wheaten TerrierMediumA$895A$46,015
120Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle DogMediumA$965A$46,105
121Bichon FriseSmallA$470A$46,440
122German SpitzMediumA$700A$46,505
123Deutscher WachtelhundMediumA$1,125A$46,605
124Irish Red and White SetterMediumA$1,125A$46,605
125SchapendoesMediumA$1,005A$46,615
126Working KelpieMediumA$1,065A$46,615
127Miniature American ShepherdMediumA$800A$46,950
128KromfohrlanderMediumA$745A$47,145
129Finnish LapphundMediumA$1,050A$47,230
130Coton de TulearSmallA$390A$47,270
131AzawakhMediumA$1,065A$47,440
132Canaan DogMediumA$1,080A$47,645
133Welsh Springer SpanielMediumA$1,080A$47,645
134Bohemian ShepherdMediumA$1,150A$47,745
135Australian Cattle DogMediumA$1,035A$47,785
136JindoMediumA$990A$47,995
137Kerry Blue TerrierMediumA$925A$48,055
138NorrbottenspetsMediumA$700A$48,270
139Grand Basset Griffon VendéenMediumA$1,035A$48,635
140Chow ChowLargeA$1,300A$48,745
141KeeshondMediumA$990A$48,875
142Portuguese PointerMediumA$1,115A$48,955
143Portuguese Water DogMediumA$1,125A$49,140
144BullmastiffGiantA$2,190A$49,355
145DreverMediumA$940A$49,565
146XoloitzcuintliMediumA$850A$49,685
147Border CollieMediumA$1,035A$49,795
148Portuguese PodengoLargeA$1,180A$49,875
149Rhodesian RidgebackLargeA$1,625A$50,190
150Lagotto RomagnoloMediumA$790A$50,195
151Sussex SpanielMediumA$990A$50,550
152PuliMediumA$800A$50,750
153Polish Lowland SheepdogMediumA$990A$51,150
154Skye TerrierMediumA$990A$51,150
155Bernese Mountain DogGiantA$1,855A$51,380
156Neapolitan MastiffGiantA$2,395A$51,485
157Belgian LaekenoisLargeA$1,345A$51,715
158BoxerLargeA$1,430A$51,965
159American English CoonhoundLargeA$1,255A$52,135
160Standard SchnauzerMediumA$990A$52,225
161Australian ShepherdMediumA$1,215A$52,330
162French SpanielLargeA$1,255A$52,715
163Labrador RetrieverLargeA$1,465A$52,745
164Clumber SpanielLargeA$1,505A$53,470
165Entlebucher Mountain DogLargeA$1,215A$53,770
166RottweilerLargeA$2,080A$53,885
167Segugio ItalianoLargeA$1,170A$53,950
168Curly-Coated RetrieverLargeA$1,625A$54,140
169GreyhoundLargeA$1,430A$54,145
170Bluetick CoonhoundLargeA$1,385A$54,320
171American BulldogLargeA$1,665A$54,555
172Doberman PinscherLargeA$1,665A$54,555
173English FoxhoundLargeA$1,465A$54,580
174Scottish DeerhoundGiantA$1,855A$54,580
175Siberian HuskyLargeA$1,125A$54,730
176Transylvanian HoundLargeA$1,255A$54,955
177Spanish Water DogMediumA$990A$55,105
178Great DaneGiantA$2,570A$55,385
179DalmatianLargeA$1,300A$55,500
180Golden RetrieverLargeA$1,430A$55,550
181BroholmerGiantA$2,255A$55,575
182MastiffGiantA$2,995A$55,800
183Czechoslovakian VlcakLargeA$1,180A$56,125
184WeimaranerLargeA$1,550A$56,240
185Thai RidgebackLargeA$1,255A$56,315
186American FoxhoundLargeA$1,430A$56,320
187Black and Tan CoonhoundLargeA$1,780A$56,480
188PorcelaineLargeA$1,315A$57,075
189Old English SheepdogLargeA$1,665A$57,230
190Plott HoundLargeA$1,170A$57,320
191Small Munsterlander PointerLargeA$1,170A$57,320
192Chesapeake Bay RetrieverLargeA$1,465A$57,375
193Berger PicardLargeA$1,345A$57,455
194Irish Water SpanielLargeA$1,285A$57,455
195Treeing Walker CoonhoundLargeA$1,345A$57,455
196Bracco ItalianoLargeA$1,550A$57,780
197Dutch ShepherdLargeA$1,315A$57,835
198Perro de Presa CanarioGiantA$1,925A$57,895
199Lapponian HerderLargeA$1,505A$57,965
200Greater Swiss Mountain DogGiantA$2,150A$57,975
201BorzoiLargeA$1,700A$57,990
202BarbetLargeA$1,170A$58,110
203Pharaoh HoundLargeA$1,170A$58,110
204Bull TerrierLargeA$1,345A$58,215
205Drentsche PatrijshondLargeA$1,355A$58,310
206Wirehaired VizslaLargeA$1,255A$58,410
207VizslaLargeA$1,210A$58,605
208Gordon SetterLargeA$1,385A$58,690
209English SetterLargeA$1,385A$58,695
210HovawartLargeA$1,625A$58,695
211Basset HoundLargeA$1,215A$58,880
212NewfoundlandGiantA$2,325A$59,635
213Saint BernardGiantA$2,670A$59,815
214SalukiLargeA$1,215A$59,985
215WetterhounLargeA$1,385A$60,085
216Slovensky CuvacLargeA$1,700A$60,335
217SamoyedLargeA$1,170A$60,480
218Airedale TerrierLargeA$1,345A$60,495
219Bavarian Mountain Scent HoundLargeA$1,200A$60,600
220Norwegian ElkhoundLargeA$1,200A$60,600
221Catahoula Leopard DogLargeA$1,550A$60,700
222Hanoverian ScenthoundLargeA$1,800A$60,790
223HarrierLargeA$1,215A$60,805
224Wirehaired Pointing GriffonLargeA$1,215A$60,805
225Slovakian Wirehaired PointerLargeA$1,300A$61,115
226German Longhaired PointerLargeA$1,465A$61,175
227HokkaidoLargeA$1,255A$61,320
228StabyhounLargeA$1,170A$61,420
229LeonbergerGiantA$2,395A$61,730
230American Leopard HoundLargeA$1,300A$61,935
231Redbone CoonhoundLargeA$1,300A$61,935
232Alaskan MalamuteLargeA$1,665A$62,070
233Appenzeller SennenhundLargeA$1,320A$62,245
234American Staffordshire TerrierLargeA$1,255A$62,590
235Belgian SheepdogLargeA$1,345A$62,755
236Belgian TervurenLargeA$1,345A$62,755
237Great PyreneesGiantA$1,855A$63,145
238KuvaszGiantA$1,855A$63,145
239PudelpointerLargeA$1,300A$63,230
240CollieLargeA$1,385A$63,250
241BloodhoundGiantA$1,890A$63,565
242Bearded CollieLargeA$1,170A$64,435
243ChinookLargeA$1,505A$64,705
244BeauceronGiantA$1,815A$64,735
245BriardLargeA$1,625A$65,260
246EurasierLargeA$1,255A$65,995
247Irish SetterLargeA$1,430A$66,140
248Bergamasco SheepdogLargeA$1,510A$66,210
249OtterhoundGiantA$1,930A$66,685
250PointerLargeA$1,345A$66,885
251Afghan HoundLargeA$1,255A$67,885
252Tibetan MastiffGiantA$2,115A$67,995
253Dogo ArgentinoGiantA$1,875A$68,015
254Bouvier des FlandresGiantA$1,815A$68,080
255TornjakLargeA$1,755A$68,090
256BoerboelGiantA$2,995A$68,615
257Belgian MalinoisLargeA$1,345A$69,055
258German Wirehaired PointerLargeA$1,345A$69,055
259HamiltonstovareLargeA$1,300A$69,570
260Poodle (Standard)LargeA$1,300A$70,275
261Black Russian TerrierGiantA$2,045A$70,585
262Estrela Mountain DogGiantA$2,035A$70,660
263Giant SchnauzerLargeA$1,505A$71,270
264KomondorGiantA$1,815A$71,425
265TosaGiantA$2,670A$71,425
266Caucasian Shepherd DogGiantA$2,460A$71,840
267Anatolian Shepherd DogGiantA$2,190A$72,485
268AkitaGiantA$1,970A$72,715
269Rafeiro do AlentejoGiantA$2,035A$76,170
270Spanish MastiffGiantA$2,935A$77,025
271Romanian Mioritic Shepherd DogGiantA$2,190A$78,145
272Pyrenean MastiffGiantA$3,065A$81,805

What a dog really costs in Australia

Across 272 dogs, lifetime cost in Australia ranges from about A$25,775 for the Japanese Chin up to A$81,805 for the Pyrenean Mastiff — roughly a 3.2× spread. That gap is driven by body size (which sets how much a dog eats and its medication doses), breed health risk (which sets insurance premiums and likely vet bills) and lifespan (which multiplies every recurring annual cost). Local prices matter just as much: Australia sits at a food price index of 1.0 and a services index of 1.0 against the US baseline of 1.00, so the same breed can cost noticeably more or less here than abroad. Every figure on this page is in AUD. Pet insurance is widely available in Australia.

Food & vet localized via Australia's price-level index; converted to AUD. US base from the RER/MER food formula and NAPHIA insurance averages. Modelled estimates — verify locally.

Compiled by the PawCosts data team from World Bank price-level data, NAPHIA averages and AAFCO/vet nutrition formulas.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest dog to own in Australia?

The Japanese Chin — about A$25,775 over its lifetime in AUD.

What is the most expensive dog to own in Australia?

The Pyrenean Mastiff — around A$81,805 lifetime.

Is pet insurance available in Australia?

Pet insurance is widely available in Australia.

How are Australia dog costs calculated?

US base costs (food via the vet RER/MER calorie formula, NAPHIA insurance averages) scaled by Australia's price-level indices — food 1.0, services 1.0 — and converted to AUD.

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