Most Expensive Metro Areas for Pet Care
All metro areas ranked by pet care price index — where grooming, boarding, and veterinary services cost the most.
What This Ranking Tells Us
Pet care costs vary dramatically across U.S. metro areas, driven by local labor costs, real estate prices, and the overall cost of living. Metros topping this list typically have high costs of living across all categories, with pet care prices reflecting the premium that groomers, trainers, and veterinarians charge in expensive markets. The price index is relative to the national average (1.0x), so a metro at 1.5x means pet care services cost roughly 50% more than the national average.
| # | Name | Price Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York NY | 1.50x |
| 2 | San Francisco CA | 1.48x |
| 3 | San Jose CA | 1.45x |
| 4 | Bellevue WA | 1.42x |
| 5 | Honolulu HI | 1.42x |
| 6 | Fremont CA | 1.40x |
| 7 | Oakland CA | 1.40x |
| 8 | Boston MA | 1.38x |
| 9 | Irvine CA | 1.35x |
| 10 | Stamford CT | 1.35x |
| 11 | Washington DC | 1.35x |
| 12 | Seattle WA | 1.33x |
| 13 | Los Angeles CA | 1.32x |
| 14 | Santa Rosa CA | 1.30x |
| 15 | Anchorage AK | 1.30x |
| 16 | San Diego CA | 1.30x |
| 17 | Miami FL | 1.28x |
| 18 | Boulder CO | 1.25x |
| 19 | Oxnard CA | 1.20x |
| 20 | Hialeah FL | 1.18x |
| 21 | Denver CO | 1.18x |
| 22 | Bend OR | 1.15x |
| 23 | Worcester MA | 1.15x |
| 24 | Tacoma WA | 1.15x |
| 25 | Sacramento CA | 1.15x |
| 26 | Portland OR | 1.15x |
| 27 | Naperville IL | 1.12x |
| 28 | Hartford CT | 1.12x |
| 29 | Austin TX | 1.12x |
| 30 | Santa Fe NM | 1.10x |
| 31 | Scottsdale AZ | 1.10x |
| 32 | Minneapolis MN | 1.10x |
| 33 | Chicago IL | 1.10x |
| 34 | Ann Arbor MI | 1.08x |
| 35 | Boise ID | 1.08x |
| 36 | Salt Lake City UT | 1.08x |
| 37 | Providence RI | 1.08x |
| 38 | Baltimore MD | 1.08x |
| 39 | Philadelphia PA | 1.08x |
| 40 | Raleigh NC | 1.06x |
| 41 | Nashville TN | 1.06x |
| 42 | Eugene OR | 1.05x |
| 43 | Provo UT | 1.05x |
| 44 | Plano TX | 1.05x |
| 45 | Las Vegas NV | 1.05x |
| 46 | Charlotte NC | 1.05x |
| 47 | Henderson NV | 1.02x |
| 48 | Reno NV | 1.02x |
| 49 | Atlanta GA | 1.02x |
| 50 | Dallas TX | 1.02x |
| 51 | Asheville NC | 1.02x |
| 52 | Gilbert AZ | 1.00x |
| 53 | Durham NC | 1.00x |
| 54 | Colorado Springs CO | 1.00x |
| 55 | St. Petersburg FL | 0.98x |
| 56 | Chandler AZ | 0.98x |
| 57 | Charleston SC | 0.98x |
| 58 | Tampa FL | 0.98x |
| 59 | Phoenix AZ | 0.98x |
| 60 | Orlando FL | 0.97x |
| 61 | Arlington TX | 0.96x |
| 62 | Stockton CA | 0.96x |
| 63 | Fort Worth TX | 0.96x |
| 64 | Cape Coral FL | 0.95x |
| 65 | Madison WI | 0.95x |
| 66 | Richmond VA | 0.95x |
| 67 | Houston TX | 0.95x |
| 68 | Jacksonville FL | 0.93x |
| 69 | Overland Park KS | 0.92x |
| 70 | Norfolk VA | 0.92x |
| 71 | Bakersfield CA | 0.92x |
| 72 | New Orleans LA | 0.92x |
| 73 | Spokane WA | 0.92x |
| 74 | Milwaukee WI | 0.92x |
| 75 | Columbus OH | 0.92x |
| 76 | San Antonio TX | 0.92x |
| 77 | Albany NY | 0.90x |
| 78 | Savannah GA | 0.90x |
| 79 | Grand Rapids MI | 0.90x |
| 80 | Pittsburgh PA | 0.90x |
| 81 | Indianapolis IN | 0.90x |
| 82 | Tallahassee FL | 0.88x |
| 83 | Kansas City MO | 0.88x |
| 84 | Omaha NE | 0.88x |
| 85 | Rochester NY | 0.88x |
| 86 | Buffalo NY | 0.88x |
| 87 | Syracuse NY | 0.88x |
| 88 | Lexington KY | 0.88x |
| 89 | Des Moines IA | 0.88x |
| 90 | Tucson AZ | 0.88x |
| 91 | Albuquerque NM | 0.88x |
| 92 | Sioux Falls SD | 0.86x |
| 93 | Lincoln NE | 0.86x |
| 94 | Tulsa OK | 0.86x |
| 95 | Knoxville TN | 0.86x |
| 96 | Baton Rouge LA | 0.84x |
| 97 | Detroit MI | 0.84x |
| 98 | Cincinnati OH | 0.84x |
| 99 | Cleveland OH | 0.84x |
| 100 | St. Louis MO | 0.84x |
| 101 | Louisville KY | 0.84x |
| 102 | Oklahoma City OK | 0.84x |
| 103 | Waco TX | 0.82x |
| 104 | Fayetteville NC | 0.82x |
| 105 | Dayton OH | 0.82x |
| 106 | Akron OH | 0.82x |
| 107 | Huntsville AL | 0.82x |
| 108 | Birmingham AL | 0.82x |
| 109 | Wichita KS | 0.82x |
| 110 | Memphis TN | 0.82x |
| 111 | Topeka KS | 0.80x |
| 112 | Toledo OH | 0.80x |
| 113 | Corpus Christi TX | 0.80x |
| 114 | Little Rock AR | 0.80x |
| 115 | El Paso TX | 0.80x |
| 116 | Montgomery AL | 0.78x |
| 117 | Mobile AL | 0.78x |
| 118 | Shreveport LA | 0.78x |
| 119 | Lubbock TX | 0.78x |
| 120 | Jackson MS | 0.76x |
| 121 | Laredo TX | 0.76x |
Source: Industry pricing data aggregated from pet service providers 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, New York, posts a price index of 1.50x, while the bottom entry in this list, Laredo, sits at 0.76x. Rankings like this are most useful when you read them alongside the underlying price ranges on each breed or metro page — the aggregate score hides detail that matters for individual budgeting.
Pet care costs vary dramatically across U.S. metro areas, driven by local labor costs, real estate prices, and the overall cost of living. Metros topping this list typically have high costs of living across all categories, with pet care prices reflecting the premium that groomers, trainers, and veterinarians charge in expensive markets. The price index is relative to the national average (1.0x), so a metro at 1.5x means pet care services cost roughly 50% more than the national average.
To get the most out of this ranking, click through to any row to see the full service-by-service breakdown. Each metro page shows a complete pricing table by size and service type, which is where real budgeting decisions actually get made. Aggregated ranks are useful for scanning the market; itemised tables are where you plan spend. Source: Industry pricing data aggregated from pet service providers across 121 U.S. metro areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the price index measure?
The price index compares local pet care costs to the national average (1.0x). A metro with a 1.5x index means pet grooming, boarding, and care services cost approximately 50% more than the national average. The index accounts for multiple service types and dog sizes to provide a comprehensive cost comparison.
Why is pet care so expensive in some cities?
The biggest cost drivers are labor (groomer wages follow local wage levels), commercial rent (grooming salons in high-rent areas pass costs to customers), cost of living adjustments, and local demand. Cities with high concentrations of pet owners and disposable income also see premium pricing. New York, San Francisco, and other coastal metros consistently rank highest.
Can I save money by choosing a cheaper metro for pet care?
While relocating for pet care savings alone is unlikely, pet owners in expensive metros can save by scheduling services during off-peak times, choosing mobile groomers (lower overhead), learning basic grooming at home, and booking package deals rather than individual appointments.
Explore More Rankings
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Source: ASPCA / U.S. State Veterinary Boards Veterinary service pricing transparency by region · 2025