Cost of owning a dog in Brazil
Lifetime and food cost for 272 dogs, localized to BRL.
The cheapest dog to own in Brazil is the Japanese Chin (~R$32,870 lifetime). All costs in BRL. Pet insurance is still a small market in Brazil — most owners self-pay vet bills.
Chart: the six cheapest dogs to own in Brazil, by total lifetime cost.
| # | Breed | Size | Food/yr | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese Chin | Small | R$590 | R$32,870 |
| 2 | Russian Toy | Small | R$425 | R$35,670 |
| 3 | English Toy Spaniel | Small | R$675 | R$36,750 |
| 4 | Toy Fox Terrier | Small | R$370 | R$37,205 |
| 5 | Chihuahua | Small | R$345 | R$37,695 |
| 6 | Danish-Swedish Farmdog | Small | R$965 | R$38,720 |
| 7 | Miniature Pinscher | Small | R$590 | R$39,025 |
| 8 | Russell Terrier | Small | R$730 | R$39,600 |
| 9 | Bolognese | Small | R$480 | R$39,895 |
| 10 | Schipperke | Small | R$770 | R$40,140 |
| 11 | Portuguese Podengo Pequeno | Small | R$675 | R$40,165 |
| 12 | Lancashire Heeler | Small | R$770 | R$40,250 |
| 13 | Boston Terrier | Small | R$1,005 | R$40,290 |
| 14 | Jagdterrier | Small | R$1,045 | R$40,830 |
| 15 | Norwich Terrier | Small | R$730 | R$40,905 |
| 16 | Tibetan Spaniel | Small | R$730 | R$40,905 |
| 17 | Italian Greyhound | Small | R$660 | R$41,210 |
| 18 | Miniature Bull Terrier | Small | R$1,185 | R$41,360 |
| 19 | Border Terrier | Small | R$770 | R$41,460 |
| 20 | Papillon | Small | R$510 | R$41,520 |
| 21 | Norfolk Terrier | Small | R$700 | R$41,825 |
| 22 | Affenpinscher | Small | R$565 | R$42,325 |
| 23 | Australian Terrier | Small | R$965 | R$42,640 |
| 24 | Japanese Spitz | Small | R$965 | R$42,640 |
| 25 | Brussels Griffon | Small | R$590 | R$42,695 |
| 26 | Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka | Small | R$510 | R$42,910 |
| 27 | Cairn Terrier | Small | R$800 | R$43,170 |
| 28 | Chinese Crested | Small | R$635 | R$43,235 |
| 29 | Smooth Fox Terrier | Small | R$920 | R$43,505 |
| 30 | Wire Fox Terrier | Small | R$920 | R$43,505 |
| 31 | Cirneco dell’Etna | Small | R$1,130 | R$43,615 |
| 32 | Löwchen | Small | R$740 | R$43,675 |
| 33 | Lakeland Terrier | Small | R$950 | R$43,875 |
| 34 | Parson Russell Terrier | Small | R$850 | R$43,940 |
| 35 | Pekingese | Small | R$810 | R$44,185 |
| 36 | Scottish Terrier | Small | R$1,060 | R$44,190 |
| 37 | Beagle | Small | R$1,265 | R$44,310 |
| 38 | Mudi | Small | R$1,195 | R$44,510 |
| 39 | Silky Terrier | Small | R$635 | R$44,640 |
| 40 | Pug | Small | R$910 | R$44,710 |
| 41 | Cesky Terrier | Small | R$1,030 | R$44,990 |
| 42 | Basenji | Small | R$1,185 | R$45,815 |
| 43 | Poodle (Miniature) | Small | R$740 | R$46,180 |
| 44 | Lhasa Apso | Small | R$850 | R$46,220 |
| 45 | French Bulldog | Small | R$1,140 | R$46,755 |
| 46 | Biewer Terrier | Small | R$425 | R$46,910 |
| 47 | American Eskimo Dog | Small | R$1,085 | R$47,215 |
| 48 | Maltese | Small | R$480 | R$47,285 |
| 49 | Bulldog (English) | Medium | R$1,955 | R$47,340 |
| 50 | Shetland Sheepdog | Small | R$1,060 | R$47,400 |
| 51 | Havanese | Small | R$635 | R$47,425 |
| 52 | Manchester Terrier (Toy) | Small | R$730 | R$47,430 |
| 53 | Taiwan Dog | Medium | R$1,555 | R$47,585 |
| 54 | Yorkshire Terrier | Small | R$400 | R$47,695 |
| 55 | Teddy Roosevelt Terrier | Small | R$920 | R$47,705 |
| 56 | Shiba Inu | Small | R$1,060 | R$48,300 |
| 57 | Rat Terrier | Small | R$965 | R$48,325 |
| 58 | Pumi | Medium | R$1,280 | R$48,680 |
| 59 | Bedlington Terrier | Small | R$1,060 | R$49,005 |
| 60 | Welsh Terrier | Small | R$1,060 | R$49,005 |
| 61 | Pomeranian | Small | R$370 | R$49,070 |
| 62 | Sealyham Terrier | Small | R$1,195 | R$49,190 |
| 63 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | R$880 | R$49,340 |
| 64 | Dachshund | Small | R$1,225 | R$49,830 |
| 65 | American Hairless Terrier | Small | R$810 | R$50,105 |
| 66 | Treeing Tennessee Brindle | Medium | R$1,790 | R$50,155 |
| 67 | Basset Fauve de Bretagne | Medium | R$1,485 | R$50,530 |
| 68 | Braque du Bourbonnais | Medium | R$1,925 | R$50,680 |
| 69 | Maltipoo | Small | R$740 | R$50,905 |
| 70 | Manchester Terrier (Standard) | Small | R$950 | R$50,950 |
| 71 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Medium | R$1,400 | R$51,350 |
| 72 | Dogue de Bordeaux | Giant | R$3,685 | R$51,380 |
| 73 | Shikoku | Medium | R$1,955 | R$51,970 |
| 74 | Icelandic Sheepdog | Medium | R$1,350 | R$52,445 |
| 75 | German Shepherd Dog | Large | R$2,720 | R$52,600 |
| 76 | Yakutian Laika | Medium | R$2,035 | R$52,880 |
| 77 | Swedish Vallhund | Medium | R$1,350 | R$53,010 |
| 78 | Mountain Cur | Medium | R$1,955 | R$53,020 |
| 79 | Nederlandse Kooikerhondje | Medium | R$1,265 | R$53,115 |
| 80 | Norwegian Lundehund | Medium | R$1,265 | R$53,115 |
| 81 | Peruvian Inca Orchid | Medium | R$1,500 | R$53,240 |
| 82 | Poodle (Toy) | Small | R$370 | R$53,585 |
| 83 | Irish Terrier | Medium | R$1,290 | R$53,980 |
| 84 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Large | R$2,585 | R$54,060 |
| 85 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Medium | R$1,485 | R$54,230 |
| 86 | Kai Ken | Medium | R$1,445 | R$54,310 |
| 87 | Slovensky Kopov | Medium | R$1,745 | R$54,520 |
| 88 | Chinese Shar-Pei | Large | R$2,200 | R$54,560 |
| 89 | German Pinscher | Medium | R$1,620 | R$54,850 |
| 90 | Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | R$1,540 | R$54,950 |
| 91 | Kishu Ken | Medium | R$1,955 | R$55,060 |
| 92 | American Water Spaniel | Medium | R$1,620 | R$55,420 |
| 93 | West Highland White Terrier | Small | R$965 | R$55,560 |
| 94 | Whippet | Medium | R$1,540 | R$55,610 |
| 95 | Finnish Spitz | Medium | R$1,320 | R$55,625 |
| 96 | Dandie Dinmont Terrier | Small | R$1,100 | R$55,640 |
| 97 | Karelian Bear Dog | Medium | R$2,010 | R$55,720 |
| 98 | German Shepherd | Large | R$2,720 | R$55,860 |
| 99 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Medium | R$1,500 | R$56,270 |
| 100 | Boykin Spaniel | Medium | R$1,540 | R$56,445 |
| 101 | Cocker Spaniel | Medium | R$1,265 | R$56,530 |
| 102 | Irish Wolfhound | Giant | R$3,890 | R$56,810 |
| 103 | Norwegian Buhund | Medium | R$1,555 | R$57,010 |
| 104 | Swedish Lapphund | Medium | R$1,705 | R$57,090 |
| 105 | Field Spaniel | Medium | R$1,870 | R$57,195 |
| 106 | Sloughi | Medium | R$1,870 | R$57,195 |
| 107 | English Cocker Spaniel | Medium | R$1,445 | R$57,205 |
| 108 | Croatian Sheepdog | Medium | R$1,680 | R$57,470 |
| 109 | Glen of Imaal Terrier | Medium | R$1,650 | R$57,820 |
| 110 | Tibetan Terrier | Small | R$1,225 | R$57,980 |
| 111 | Ibizan Hound | Medium | R$2,035 | R$58,130 |
| 112 | German Spitz | Medium | R$1,265 | R$58,635 |
| 113 | Miniature Schnauzer | Small | R$880 | R$58,740 |
| 114 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Medium | R$1,870 | R$59,240 |
| 115 | Portuguese Sheepdog | Medium | R$2,050 | R$59,430 |
| 116 | Brittany | Medium | R$1,620 | R$59,530 |
| 117 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Medium | R$1,620 | R$59,530 |
| 118 | Portuguese Podengo | Large | R$2,130 | R$59,575 |
| 119 | Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog | Medium | R$1,745 | R$59,610 |
| 120 | Chow Chow | Large | R$2,350 | R$59,675 |
| 121 | Kromfohrlander | Medium | R$1,350 | R$59,790 |
| 122 | Shih Tzu | Small | R$740 | R$59,880 |
| 123 | Norrbottenspets | Medium | R$1,265 | R$60,080 |
| 124 | English Springer Spaniel | Medium | R$1,955 | R$60,310 |
| 125 | German Shorthaired Pointer | Large | R$2,350 | R$60,315 |
| 126 | Schapendoes | Medium | R$1,815 | R$60,540 |
| 127 | Working Kelpie | Medium | R$1,925 | R$60,810 |
| 128 | Miniature American Shepherd | Medium | R$1,445 | R$60,865 |
| 129 | Deutscher Wachtelhund | Medium | R$2,035 | R$61,380 |
| 130 | Irish Red and White Setter | Medium | R$2,035 | R$61,380 |
| 131 | Finnish Lapphund | Medium | R$1,900 | R$61,650 |
| 132 | Coton de Tulear | Small | R$700 | R$61,810 |
| 133 | Azawakh | Medium | R$1,925 | R$62,025 |
| 134 | Australian Cattle Dog | Medium | R$1,870 | R$62,065 |
| 135 | Jindo | Medium | R$1,790 | R$62,170 |
| 136 | Bichon Frise | Small | R$850 | R$62,275 |
| 137 | Kerry Blue Terrier | Medium | R$1,680 | R$62,330 |
| 138 | Canaan Dog | Medium | R$1,955 | R$62,395 |
| 139 | Welsh Springer Spaniel | Medium | R$1,955 | R$62,395 |
| 140 | American English Coonhound | Large | R$2,270 | R$62,520 |
| 141 | Bohemian Shepherd | Medium | R$2,075 | R$62,850 |
| 142 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Large | R$2,940 | R$62,890 |
| 143 | Belgian Laekenois | Large | R$2,435 | R$62,900 |
| 144 | Xoloitzcuintli | Medium | R$1,540 | R$62,945 |
| 145 | Lagotto Romagnolo | Medium | R$1,430 | R$63,020 |
| 146 | Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | R$1,870 | R$63,325 |
| 147 | Boxer | Large | R$2,585 | R$63,575 |
| 148 | Drever | Medium | R$1,705 | R$63,590 |
| 149 | Bullmastiff | Giant | R$3,960 | R$63,650 |
| 150 | Keeshond | Medium | R$1,790 | R$63,810 |
| 151 | French Spaniel | Large | R$2,270 | R$64,055 |
| 152 | Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Large | R$2,200 | R$64,120 |
| 153 | Portuguese Pointer | Medium | R$2,020 | R$64,180 |
| 154 | Segugio Italiano | Large | R$2,120 | R$64,210 |
| 155 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Giant | R$3,355 | R$65,060 |
| 156 | Border Collie | Medium | R$1,870 | R$65,475 |
| 157 | Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | R$2,035 | R$65,770 |
| 158 | Sussex Spaniel | Medium | R$1,790 | R$65,950 |
| 159 | Transylvanian Hound | Large | R$2,270 | R$66,020 |
| 160 | Clumber Spaniel | Large | R$2,720 | R$66,080 |
| 161 | Greyhound | Large | R$2,585 | R$66,155 |
| 162 | Bluetick Coonhound | Large | R$2,505 | R$66,240 |
| 163 | Puli | Medium | R$1,445 | R$66,490 |
| 164 | Czechoslovakian Vlcak | Large | R$2,130 | R$66,770 |
| 165 | English Foxhound | Large | R$2,655 | R$66,945 |
| 166 | Dalmatian | Large | R$2,350 | R$67,010 |
| 167 | Neapolitan Mastiff | Giant | R$4,330 | R$67,340 |
| 168 | Thai Ridgeback | Large | R$2,270 | R$67,365 |
| 169 | Curly-Coated Retriever | Large | R$2,940 | R$67,510 |
| 170 | Polish Lowland Sheepdog | Medium | R$1,790 | R$67,525 |
| 171 | Skye Terrier | Medium | R$1,790 | R$67,525 |
| 172 | Plott Hound | Large | R$2,120 | R$67,820 |
| 173 | Small Munsterlander Pointer | Large | R$2,120 | R$67,820 |
| 174 | Standard Schnauzer | Medium | R$1,790 | R$68,090 |
| 175 | American Bulldog | Large | R$3,010 | R$68,265 |
| 176 | Doberman Pinscher | Large | R$3,010 | R$68,265 |
| 177 | Scottish Deerhound | Giant | R$3,355 | R$68,385 |
| 178 | American Foxhound | Large | R$2,585 | R$68,740 |
| 179 | Porcelaine | Large | R$2,380 | R$68,740 |
| 180 | Barbet | Large | R$2,120 | R$68,990 |
| 181 | Pharaoh Hound | Large | R$2,120 | R$68,990 |
| 182 | Irish Water Spaniel | Large | R$2,325 | R$69,180 |
| 183 | Golden Retriever | Large | R$2,585 | R$69,185 |
| 184 | Berger Picard | Large | R$2,435 | R$69,430 |
| 185 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | Large | R$2,435 | R$69,430 |
| 186 | Weimaraner | Large | R$2,805 | R$69,720 |
| 187 | Wirehaired Vizsla | Large | R$2,270 | R$69,790 |
| 188 | Dutch Shepherd | Large | R$2,380 | R$69,865 |
| 189 | Vizsla | Large | R$2,185 | R$69,885 |
| 190 | Australian Shepherd | Medium | R$2,200 | R$70,070 |
| 191 | Bull Terrier | Large | R$2,435 | R$70,555 |
| 192 | Labrador Retriever | Large | R$2,655 | R$70,640 |
| 193 | Drentsche Patrijshond | Large | R$2,450 | R$70,725 |
| 194 | Rottweiler | Large | R$3,770 | R$70,945 |
| 195 | Basset Hound | Large | R$2,200 | R$71,005 |
| 196 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | Large | R$2,655 | R$71,085 |
| 197 | Saluki | Large | R$2,200 | R$71,285 |
| 198 | Bracco Italiano | Large | R$2,805 | R$71,380 |
| 199 | Gordon Setter | Large | R$2,505 | R$71,410 |
| 200 | Siberian Husky | Large | R$2,035 | R$71,430 |
| 201 | Lapponian Herder | Large | R$2,720 | R$71,470 |
| 202 | Black and Tan Coonhound | Large | R$3,220 | R$71,520 |
| 203 | Broholmer | Giant | R$4,085 | R$71,750 |
| 204 | English Setter | Large | R$2,505 | R$72,070 |
| 205 | Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound | Large | R$2,175 | R$72,130 |
| 206 | Norwegian Elkhound | Large | R$2,175 | R$72,130 |
| 207 | Old English Sheepdog | Large | R$3,010 | R$72,225 |
| 208 | Harrier | Large | R$2,200 | R$72,500 |
| 209 | Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | Large | R$2,200 | R$72,500 |
| 210 | Samoyed | Large | R$2,120 | R$72,500 |
| 211 | Stabyhoun | Large | R$2,120 | R$72,520 |
| 212 | Perro de Presa Canario | Giant | R$3,480 | R$72,810 |
| 213 | Wetterhoun | Large | R$2,505 | R$72,830 |
| 214 | Borzoi | Large | R$3,080 | R$72,885 |
| 215 | Great Dane | Giant | R$4,650 | R$72,990 |
| 216 | Hovawart | Large | R$2,940 | R$73,030 |
| 217 | Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer | Large | R$2,350 | R$73,325 |
| 218 | Spanish Water Dog | Medium | R$1,790 | R$73,375 |
| 219 | Hokkaido | Large | R$2,270 | R$73,425 |
| 220 | Airedale Terrier | Large | R$2,435 | R$73,930 |
| 221 | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Giant | R$3,890 | R$74,335 |
| 222 | American Leopard Hound | Large | R$2,350 | R$74,540 |
| 223 | Redbone Coonhound | Large | R$2,350 | R$74,540 |
| 224 | American Staffordshire Terrier | Large | R$2,270 | R$74,635 |
| 225 | German Longhaired Pointer | Large | R$2,655 | R$74,795 |
| 226 | Appenzeller Sennenhund | Large | R$2,395 | R$75,100 |
| 227 | Mastiff | Giant | R$5,420 | R$75,310 |
| 228 | Catahoula Leopard Dog | Large | R$2,805 | R$75,700 |
| 229 | Slovensky Cuvac | Large | R$3,080 | R$75,760 |
| 230 | Pudelpointer | Large | R$2,350 | R$75,790 |
| 231 | Belgian Sheepdog | Large | R$2,435 | R$76,615 |
| 232 | Belgian Tervuren | Large | R$2,435 | R$76,615 |
| 233 | Hanoverian Scenthound | Large | R$3,260 | R$76,820 |
| 234 | Newfoundland | Giant | R$4,210 | R$77,340 |
| 235 | Collie | Large | R$2,505 | R$77,510 |
| 236 | Alaskan Malamute | Large | R$3,010 | R$78,170 |
| 237 | Bearded Collie | Large | R$2,120 | R$78,350 |
| 238 | Great Pyrenees | Giant | R$3,355 | R$78,950 |
| 239 | Kuvasz | Giant | R$3,355 | R$78,950 |
| 240 | Saint Bernard | Giant | R$4,825 | R$79,245 |
| 241 | Chinook | Large | R$2,720 | R$79,550 |
| 242 | Eurasier | Large | R$2,270 | R$79,675 |
| 243 | Bloodhound | Giant | R$3,425 | R$79,705 |
| 244 | Pointer | Large | R$2,435 | R$80,755 |
| 245 | Beauceron | Giant | R$3,285 | R$81,160 |
| 246 | Bergamasco Sheepdog | Large | R$2,735 | R$81,180 |
| 247 | Leonberger | Giant | R$4,330 | R$81,270 |
| 248 | Irish Setter | Large | R$2,585 | R$81,340 |
| 249 | Briard | Large | R$2,940 | R$82,750 |
| 250 | Afghan Hound | Large | R$2,270 | R$83,145 |
| 251 | Hamiltonstovare | Large | R$2,350 | R$83,185 |
| 252 | Belgian Malinois | Large | R$2,435 | R$83,305 |
| 253 | German Wirehaired Pointer | Large | R$2,435 | R$83,305 |
| 254 | Otterhound | Giant | R$3,490 | R$83,765 |
| 255 | Dogo Argentino | Giant | R$3,395 | R$84,835 |
| 256 | Bouvier des Flandres | Giant | R$3,285 | R$86,110 |
| 257 | Tornjak | Large | R$3,175 | R$86,265 |
| 258 | Tibetan Mastiff | Giant | R$3,825 | R$87,060 |
| 259 | Giant Schnauzer | Large | R$2,720 | R$89,270 |
| 260 | Estrela Mountain Dog | Giant | R$3,685 | R$89,380 |
| 261 | Black Russian Terrier | Giant | R$3,700 | R$90,650 |
| 262 | Komondor | Giant | R$3,285 | R$91,060 |
| 263 | Boerboel | Giant | R$5,420 | R$92,200 |
| 264 | Anatolian Shepherd Dog | Giant | R$3,960 | R$92,680 |
| 265 | Akita | Giant | R$3,560 | R$92,835 |
| 266 | Caucasian Shepherd Dog | Giant | R$4,455 | R$94,020 |
| 267 | Tosa | Giant | R$4,825 | R$94,140 |
| 268 | Poodle (Standard) | Large | R$2,350 | R$94,670 |
| 269 | Rafeiro do Alentejo | Giant | R$3,685 | R$96,180 |
| 270 | Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog | Giant | R$3,960 | R$99,760 |
| 271 | Spanish Mastiff | Giant | R$5,310 | R$103,395 |
| 272 | Pyrenean Mastiff | Giant | R$5,540 | R$110,430 |
What a dog really costs in Brazil
Across 272 dogs, lifetime cost in Brazil ranges from about R$32,870 for the Japanese Chin up to R$110,430 for the Pyrenean Mastiff — roughly a 3.4× 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: Brazil sits at a food price index of 0.55 and a services index of 0.45 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 BRL. Pet insurance is still a small market in Brazil — most owners self-pay vet bills.
Food & vet localized via Brazil's price-level index; converted to BRL. 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 Brazil?
The Japanese Chin — about R$32,870 over its lifetime in BRL.
What is the most expensive dog to own in Brazil?
The Pyrenean Mastiff — around R$110,430 lifetime.
Is pet insurance available in Brazil?
Pet insurance is still a small market in Brazil — most owners self-pay vet bills.
How are Brazil dog costs calculated?
US base costs (food via the vet RER/MER calorie formula, NAPHIA insurance averages) scaled by Brazil's price-level indices — food 0.55, services 0.45 — and converted to BRL.