Online discount code retailer, Savoo has analysed the cost pet owners can expect to pay for some of the UK’s most popular cat and dog breeds, whilst also revealing the most pet-friendly cities in the UK and Europe.
- The average lifetime cost of owning a cat averages at £23,077, with Savannah cats costing up to £28,762
- Dogs on average cost £17,848 across their lifetime, with Bulldogs coming in as the most expensive at £24,207
- German Shepherds, Beagles and Dachshunds are the most affordable dog breeds to have, whilst British Shorthair, Persian and Sphynx are the cheapest cat breed
May 2022: Savoo has analysed the total costs you can expect to pay to own one of the UK’s most popular cat or dog breeds, analysing the cost to buy vs. adopt, food, insurance, grooming, toys, booster vaccine and litter costs, as well as training classes, and bedding. The study also analyses cities in Europe and the UK to determine the best destinations to raise your latest addition to the family. You can view the study here.
Having a pet is a popular choice for many, but before making the commitment to get your own it’s important to consider all of the financial costs involved across their lifetime and how much more you could be paying for certain breeds.
The average cost of a cat vs. dog across their lifetime
| Lifetime cost | Annual cost | Monthly cost | First 12 months | |
| Dog | £17,848 | £1,339 | £112 | £3,656 |
| Cat | £23,077 | £1,601 | £133 | £2,514 |
Whilst many may think dogs require more financial maintenance, our research reveals that cats are significantly more expensive, costing a staggering £23,077 over their lifetime, compared to dogs at £17,848.
Bulldogs rank as the most expensive dog breed to own
| Rank | Breed | Lifetime cost | Annual cost | Monthly cost | First 12 months |
| 1 | Bulldog | £24,207 | £1,619 | £135 | £6,350 |
| 2 | Rottweiler | £20,329 | £2,035 | £170 | £4,004 |
| 3 | Golden Retriever | £20,004 | £1,591 | £133 | £4,043 |
| 4 | Poodle | £19,233 | £1,457 | £121 | £3,155 |
| 5 | Labrador/ Retriever | £17,830 | £1,452 | £121 | £3,261 |
Bulldogs rank as the most expensive dog breed, costing a staggering £24,207 across their lifetime, just over £5,000 less than the average UK annual salary of £29,600. Not only is this breed the most expensive to buy as a puppy, averaging at £4,241, insurance costs make Bulldogs particularly pricey, stacking up to £12,522 across their 12 year life span.
Rottweilers rank as the second most expensive dog breed, costing over £20,000 across their lifetime. Golden Retrievers rank as third most expensive, with a lifetime cost of £20,004
On the other end of the scale, German Shepherds rank as the most affordable dog breed for future pet owners, costing just £13,811 across their 11 year lifetime, followed by Beagles (14,175) and Dachshunds (£14,749).
Savannah cats rank as the most expensive breed to own
| Rank | Breed | Lifetime cost | Annual cost | Monthly cost | First 12 months |
| 1 | Savannah Cat | £28,762 | £1,834 | £153 | £2,998 |
| 2 | Maine Coone | £26,449 | £1,808 | £151 | £2,849 |
| 3 | Ragdoll | £24,363 | £1,662 | £139 | £2,666 |
| 4 | Russian Blue | £24,113 | £1,543 | £129 | £2,414 |
| 5 | Scottish Fold | £23,668 | £1,511 | £126 | £2,421 |
Savannah cats are one of the largest cat breeds, costing owners more than any other feline at £1,077 as a kitten. Interestingly, the average cost to adopt a Savannah cat is £300, the second cheapest of all breeds for those looking to save money. Due to its size and lifespan of 15 years, food costs alone for this cat will reach over £7,000 (£7,026).
Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats come in second and third most expensive at £26,449 and £24,363 across their lifetime respectively.
Of all 10 breeds analysed, just two cost under £20,000, with the British Shorthair coming out as the most affordable, costing an average of £16,296 across its lifetime. Bengal and Siamese cats come in as the second and third cheapest costing £17,398 and £22,702 respectively.
Paris named the most pet friendly city in Europe
We’ve determined the best cities in the Europe to own a pet.
| Rank | City | Dog friendly restau- rants | Number of vets | Number of parks | Number of pet stores | Number of grooming shops | Number of training classes | % of pet friendly rentals |
| 1 | Paris | 291 | 213 | 287 | 57 | 145 | 57 | 8.33% |
| 2 | Berlin | 169 | 116 | 94 | 107 | 25 | 112 | 24.81% |
| 3 | Barcelona | 223 | 134 | 138 | 47 | 24 | 41 | 18.81% |
| 4 | Milan | 400 | 133 | 114 | 59 | 17 | 29 | 13.95% |
| 5 | Vienna | 135 | 117 | 72 | 51 | 28 | 22 | 33.54% |
Thanks to its 287 parks, 145 grooming shops and the second most vets, pet friendly Paris has emerged as the leader of the pack in Europe. Berlin comes in second place with the highest number of training classes (112) and the second most pet stores (107).
London takes the crown as the top most pet friendly city in the UK, with the highest number of dog friendly restaurants (408) and the highest number of vets (221). Birmingham comes in second place in our analysis with the second most grooming stores (161).
Ed Fleming, Managing Director at Savoo comments:
“Overall, owning a pet can be very expensive, therefore it’s imperative that we keep in mind all potential costs before owning one of our own. Savoo has plenty of voucher options available to help cut the costs of keeping a pet, including deals on pet food, supplies and even pet insurance to help animal lovers look after their beloved pets in the best way possible, without breaking the bank.”
With costs and location all playing a pivotal factor in raising a pet, will you be relocating or considering the breed you get in the future?
