Thinking about a dog or cat in a city apartment? Pick your situation below and get an instant estimate of the first-year cost and the monthly average — broken down by food, vet care, insurance, and gear.
about $0 per month on average
First-year total includes one-time setup gear. Ongoing years are usually lower — mostly food, litter, and routine vet care.
Monthly food: $35–75 for dogs by size, ~$32 for a cat. Cat litter ~$20/month. Treats, toys, and basic supplies $14–26/month. Routine annual vet care (exam, vaccines, preventatives) $290–470. Starter gear (crate or carrier, bed, bowls, leash or litter box, scratcher) $190–360. Insurance $26/month for cats, $48/month for dogs.
Food, litter, vet, and insurance scale per pet. Setup gear for a second pet is counted at 60%, since items like carriers and litter boxes are often shared. City prices run higher than national averages — that is intentional.
Estimates based on typical 2026 U.S. city prices; actual costs vary.
It gives planning-level estimates based on typical 2026 U.S. city prices. Real costs vary with the brands you buy, your city's vet prices, and your pet's health. Use it as a budget starting point, not a quote.
It depends on your emergency fund. One emergency surgery can cost $2,000 to $7,000 — many years of premiums. If a surprise $3,000 vet bill would break your budget, insurance is worth pricing out.
The first year includes one-time setup gear plus initial vet work like spay/neuter and the first full vaccine series. Later years are mostly food, litter, and routine care.
No — the estimate covers routine annual care only. Emergencies are exactly what insurance or a dedicated emergency fund is for. Toggle insurance on above to see how premiums change the picture.
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