Cost of owning a dog in Montana
Services in Montana are priced at 98.7% of the US level (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024) — about the national average, so the US-wide figures on this site apply almost unchanged. Food, gear and medication bought online cost the same everywhere, so the difference lands on the vet, groomer, kennel and insurer.
| Category | per year | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Food & treats929 kcal/day × $1.42 per 1,000 kcal + 30% treats | $625 | 24% |
| Vet & preventive1 exam, core vaccines, heartworm test, dental every 3 yrs, 12 months of parasite prevention | $787 | 30% |
| InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state | $825 | 31% |
| GroomingHome grooming: brush, clippers, shampoo | $24 | 1% |
| Supplies & gearReplacement toys, waste bags, treats | $58 | 2% |
| Training & boardingUS average yearly boarding spend, adjusted for state | $318 | 12% |
Where Montana sits
| Services price level | 98.7 |
| Rank among 51 (1 = cheapest) | #19 |
| All-items price level | 94.6 |
| Goods price level | 96.0 |
| Housing rents level | 84.6 |
100 = US average. We apply the "services: other" component to vet care, salon grooming, boarding and insurance; goods and rents are shown for context only.
Source · U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · Updated 2026-09-21
Similar price level
Popular breeds priced for Montana
Typical yearly cost for an adult, standard kibble, accident & illness insurance, salon grooming for coats that need clipping. Open a breed to adjust.
| Breed | Per year | First year | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| French BulldogAKC #1 · small | $2,515 | $3,480 | $25,965 |
| Labrador RetrieverAKC #2 · large | $3,252 | $4,264 | $43,032 |
| Golden RetrieverAKC #3 · large | $2,979 | $3,991 | $41,037 |
| German Shepherd DogAKC #4 · large | $3,270 | $4,282 | $37,567 |
| DachshundAKC #5 · small | $2,503 | $3,468 | $35,024 |
| Miniature PoodleAKC #6 · small | $2,809 | $3,774 | $41,389 |
| Standard PoodleAKC #6 · large | $3,698 | $4,710 | $53,048 |
| Toy PoodleAKC #6 · toy | $2,651 | $3,616 | $39,387 |
| BeagleAKC #7 · small | $2,535 | $3,500 | $33,310 |
| RottweilerAKC #8 · giant | $3,359 | $4,396 | $36,866 |
| German Shorthaired PointerAKC #9 · large | $3,113 | $4,125 | $42,337 |
| BulldogAKC #10 · medium | $2,741 | $3,708 | $28,122 |
| Cane CorsoAKC #11 · giant | $3,503 | $4,540 | $29,404 |
| Cavalier King Charles SpanielAKC #12 · small | $2,761 | $3,726 | $34,350 |
| Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)AKC #13 · toy | $2,600 | $3,565 | $36,690 |
Cheapest to keep in Montana
- 01Chihuahua$2,161
- 02Russian Toy$2,204
- 03Toy Fox Terrier$2,225
Most expensive to keep in Montana
- 01Black Russian Terrier$4,478
- 02Komondor$4,173
- 03Leonberger$4,165
State pages use one price index for all of Montana; a big-city clinic and a rural one can differ more than any two states. How the state adjustment works.