Santa Monica Named Most Expensive City For Dog Ownership

SANTA MONICA, CA — Pet parents know it costs a pretty penny to properly take care of their furry friends. And as it turns out, that's especially true in Santa Monica, which was just named the most expensive city in the nation to own a dog.

That's according to online pet-care marketplace Rover, which made the finding in its 5th True Cost of Pet Parenthood Report.

Rover surveyed 1,000 pet parents last month, looking at the cost of pet services on Rover, training and grooming, according to the company.

Rover found that in total, the cost of food, medication, poop bags, treats, toys, licensure and vet visits can cost anywhere between $1,000 to $5,225 depending on the city.

The median monthly cost of $260 nationwide is a whopping $100 increase on average from 2023: Some dog-food brands cost 80 percent more than last year, according to Rover.

“Stubborn inflationary cost pressures have added to the sticker shock of a new pet in 2024, but maybe paradoxically the bonds that people share with their dogs and cats have never been stronger,” said Kate Jaffe, trend expert at Rover. “While dogs and cats are eating up a larger share of disposable income, that’s largely because pet parents view them as an invaluable, beloved part of the nuclear family. Spending on pets is now seen as less discretionary and more necessary—and that’s a super encouraging trend and realization for the pet industry at large.”

Here are the top five most expensive cities to own a dog:

1. Santa Monica
2. San Francisco
3. Oakland
4. Bellevue, Washington
5. San Jose

And the five least expensive cities:

1. El Paso, Texas
2. Lexington, Kentucky
3. Oklahoma City
4. Virginia Beach, Virginia
5. Dayton, Ohio

Here are Rover's full True Cost of Pet Parenthood in 2024 reports for dogs and cats.