PlainPetCare rankings
Cheapest Metro Areas for Pet Care
All metro areas ranked by lowest pet care costs, where grooming and pet services are most affordable.
- 0.76x
- #1 · Laredo
- 121
- metros ranked
- 1.50x
- #121 · New York
The verdict
According to PlainPetCare regional price model, national base rates adjusted by a metro cost-of-living index calibrated to BLS regional cost-of-living differences, across 121 U.S. metro areas, Laredo leads the list at 0.76x; the full ranking spans 121 metros down to New York at 1.50x.
- 0.76x
- #1 · Laredo
- 1.50x
- #121 · New York
- 121
- entries ranked
Top 12 by price index
The full ranking
| # | Name | Price Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laredo TX | 0.76x |
| 2 | Jackson MS | 0.76x |
| 3 | Lubbock TX | 0.78x |
| 4 | Shreveport LA | 0.78x |
| 5 | Mobile AL | 0.78x |
| 6 | Montgomery AL | 0.78x |
| 7 | El Paso TX | 0.80x |
| 8 | Little Rock AR | 0.80x |
| 9 | Corpus Christi TX | 0.80x |
| 10 | Toledo OH | 0.80x |
| 11 | Topeka KS | 0.80x |
| 12 | Memphis TN | 0.82x |
| 13 | Wichita KS | 0.82x |
| 14 | Birmingham AL | 0.82x |
| 15 | Huntsville AL | 0.82x |
| 16 | Akron OH | 0.82x |
| 17 | Dayton OH | 0.82x |
| 18 | Fayetteville NC | 0.82x |
| 19 | Waco TX | 0.82x |
| 20 | Oklahoma City OK | 0.84x |
| 21 | Louisville KY | 0.84x |
| 22 | St. Louis MO | 0.84x |
| 23 | Cleveland OH | 0.84x |
| 24 | Cincinnati OH | 0.84x |
| 25 | Detroit MI | 0.84x |
| 26 | Baton Rouge LA | 0.84x |
| 27 | Knoxville TN | 0.86x |
| 28 | Tulsa OK | 0.86x |
| 29 | Lincoln NE | 0.86x |
| 30 | Sioux Falls SD | 0.86x |
| 31 | Albuquerque NM | 0.88x |
| 32 | Tucson AZ | 0.88x |
| 33 | Des Moines IA | 0.88x |
| 34 | Lexington KY | 0.88x |
| 35 | Syracuse NY | 0.88x |
| 36 | Buffalo NY | 0.88x |
| 37 | Rochester NY | 0.88x |
| 38 | Omaha NE | 0.88x |
| 39 | Kansas City MO | 0.88x |
| 40 | Tallahassee FL | 0.88x |
| 41 | Indianapolis IN | 0.90x |
| 42 | Pittsburgh PA | 0.90x |
| 43 | Grand Rapids MI | 0.90x |
| 44 | Savannah GA | 0.90x |
| 45 | Albany NY | 0.90x |
| 46 | San Antonio TX | 0.92x |
| 47 | Columbus OH | 0.92x |
| 48 | Milwaukee WI | 0.92x |
| 49 | Spokane WA | 0.92x |
| 50 | New Orleans LA | 0.92x |
| 51 | Bakersfield CA | 0.92x |
| 52 | Norfolk VA | 0.92x |
| 53 | Overland Park KS | 0.92x |
| 54 | Jacksonville FL | 0.93x |
| 55 | Houston TX | 0.95x |
| 56 | Richmond VA | 0.95x |
| 57 | Madison WI | 0.95x |
| 58 | Cape Coral FL | 0.95x |
| 59 | Fort Worth TX | 0.96x |
| 60 | Stockton CA | 0.96x |
| 61 | Arlington TX | 0.96x |
| 62 | Orlando FL | 0.97x |
| 63 | Phoenix AZ | 0.98x |
| 64 | Tampa FL | 0.98x |
| 65 | Charleston SC | 0.98x |
| 66 | Chandler AZ | 0.98x |
| 67 | St. Petersburg FL | 0.98x |
| 68 | Colorado Springs CO | 1.00x |
| 69 | Durham NC | 1.00x |
| 70 | Gilbert AZ | 1.00x |
| 71 | Asheville NC | 1.02x |
| 72 | Dallas TX | 1.02x |
| 73 | Atlanta GA | 1.02x |
| 74 | Reno NV | 1.02x |
| 75 | Henderson NV | 1.02x |
| 76 | Charlotte NC | 1.05x |
| 77 | Las Vegas NV | 1.05x |
| 78 | Plano TX | 1.05x |
| 79 | Provo UT | 1.05x |
| 80 | Eugene OR | 1.05x |
| 81 | Nashville TN | 1.06x |
| 82 | Raleigh NC | 1.06x |
| 83 | Philadelphia PA | 1.08x |
| 84 | Baltimore MD | 1.08x |
| 85 | Providence RI | 1.08x |
| 86 | Salt Lake City UT | 1.08x |
| 87 | Boise ID | 1.08x |
| 88 | Ann Arbor MI | 1.08x |
| 89 | Chicago IL | 1.10x |
| 90 | Minneapolis MN | 1.10x |
| 91 | Scottsdale AZ | 1.10x |
| 92 | Santa Fe NM | 1.10x |
| 93 | Austin TX | 1.12x |
| 94 | Hartford CT | 1.12x |
| 95 | Naperville IL | 1.12x |
| 96 | Portland OR | 1.15x |
| 97 | Sacramento CA | 1.15x |
| 98 | Tacoma WA | 1.15x |
| 99 | Worcester MA | 1.15x |
| 100 | Bend OR | 1.15x |
| 101 | Denver CO | 1.18x |
| 102 | Hialeah FL | 1.18x |
| 103 | Oxnard CA | 1.20x |
| 104 | Boulder CO | 1.25x |
| 105 | Miami FL | 1.28x |
| 106 | San Diego CA | 1.30x |
| 107 | Anchorage AK | 1.30x |
| 108 | Santa Rosa CA | 1.30x |
| 109 | Los Angeles CA | 1.32x |
| 110 | Seattle WA | 1.33x |
| 111 | Washington DC | 1.35x |
| 112 | Stamford CT | 1.35x |
| 113 | Irvine CA | 1.35x |
| 114 | Boston MA | 1.38x |
| 115 | Oakland CA | 1.40x |
| 116 | Fremont CA | 1.40x |
| 117 | Honolulu HI | 1.42x |
| 118 | Bellevue WA | 1.42x |
| 119 | San Jose CA | 1.45x |
| 120 | San Francisco CA | 1.48x |
| 121 | New York NY | 1.50x |
Source: PlainPetCare regional price model, national base rates adjusted by a metro cost-of-living index calibrated to BLS regional cost-of-living differences, across 121 U.S. metro areas.
How to read this ranking
This table ranks 121 entries in the PlainPetCare dataset by price index. The top entry, Laredo, posts a price index of 0.76x, while the bottom entry in this list, New York, sits at 1.50x. Rankings like this are most useful read alongside the underlying price ranges on each breed or metro page, the aggregate score hides detail that matters for individual budgeting.
To get the most out of this ranking, click through to any row for the full service-by-service breakdown. Each metro page shows a complete pricing table by size and service type, where real budgeting decisions actually get made. Aggregated ranks are useful for scanning the market; itemised tables are where you plan spend.
Frequently asked questions
Does cheaper pet care mean lower quality?
Not at all. Lower prices in these metros reflect lower operating costs (rent, wages, utilities) rather than inferior service quality. Many excellent groomers and pet care providers operate in affordable markets. Always check reviews, certifications, and ask for referrals regardless of price level.
How much can I save in a cheaper metro?
The difference between the most and least expensive metros can be significant. A full grooming service for a medium dog might cost $80-120 in a luxury-tier metro vs. $40-60 in a budget-tier metro, roughly 50% less. Over a year with monthly grooming, that is $240-720 in savings.
Explore more rankings
- Compare against the opposite end of the market. See the other side
- Drill into a single entry for the full service-by-service price table. All metros
- Estimate a full annual pet-care budget for your situation. Annual cost estimator
Related guides
Every figure on PlainPetCare is rendered directly from AKC breed data and industry pet-service pricing surveys, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on AKC breed data and industry pet-service pricing surveys, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
Sources: PlainPetCare regional price model, national base rates adjusted by a metro cost-of-living index calibrated to BLS regional cost-of-living differences, across 121 U.S. metro areas; the regional index is calibrated to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regional cost-of-living data (verify with BLS →). Read our methodology.
Disclaimer: Prices are modelled estimates for informational budgeting only and do not constitute professional advice. Confirm with a local provider before making decisions.