Report: Colorado One of the Most Expensive States for Dog Owners

Plenty of people here in Colorado love their dogs, and in the past, quite a few of our cities were ranked as some of the best for having one.

However, it feels like things may be changing a bit.

In a recent study that looked to find the best cities for dogs, Fort Collins, a city that used to be the best for dogs, dropped all the way down to 16th.

An even more drastic drop came from Denver, which has also received praise as the best in the past. These days, it ranks all the way down at 51st.

On the other hand, another problem in Colorado has become quite expensive. In fact, we are the 9th hardest state to save money in. 

With all this being said, it may come as no surprise that owning a dog in Colorado is usually more expensive than other places.

Colorado is the Top 15 Most Expensive Places for Dog Owners

MarketWatch Guides decided they wanted to find out how much it costs to own a dog in each state in the country.

They looked at five different costs; yearly food & treats, boarding & grooming, and insurance & vet costs. It also takes into account how much it takes for a puppy to get its proper vaccines and spay or neuter operations. Finally, it gives a total lifetime cost as well. 

When everything is put together, the average Coloradan can expect to pay at least $29,554 on a dog throughout its life.

Overall, though, each of the individual costs are not far and away higher than the rest of the pack.

Puppy costs will typically run you $1,044, while food & treats are $650 per year, boarding & grooming are $898 per year, and insurance and vet cost $1,044 per year.

 What Are the Most and Least Expensive States for Dog Owners?

When it comes to the most expensive state for dog owners, it honestly shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone. It’s California.

They pay more than $100 more in treats & food than Coloradans, as well as more than $200 in insurance & vet fees. 

This means the average lifetime cost of owning a dog in California will run you $35,452. 

On the other hand, the cheapest place for dog owners in the entire country is Oklahoma.

Boarding & grooming costs there are down at $685 per year, while insurance & vet fees are down at $868. 

Finally, this means that owning a dog in Oklahoma will cost you $24,855, almost $5,000 less than Colorado and over $10,000 less than California.