Cost of owning a dog in Arkansas
Services in Arkansas are priced at 95.3% of the US level (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024) — below the national average, so service-heavy costs come in a little lighter than the US figure. 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 | $776 | 30% |
| InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state | $797 | 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 | $307 | 12% |
Where Arkansas sits
| Services price level | 95.3 |
| Rank among 51 (1 = cheapest) | #8 |
| All-items price level | 86.9 |
| Goods price level | 93.6 |
| Housing rents level | 58.2 |
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 Arkansas
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 | $2,463 | $3,400 | $25,413 |
| Labrador RetrieverAKC #2 · large | $3,203 | $4,187 | $42,311 |
| Golden RetrieverAKC #3 · large | $2,930 | $3,914 | $40,310 |
| German Shepherd DogAKC #4 · large | $3,221 | $4,205 | $36,952 |
| DachshundAKC #5 · small | $2,451 | $3,388 | $34,268 |
| Miniature PoodleAKC #6 · small | $2,740 | $3,677 | $40,347 |
| Standard PoodleAKC #6 · large | $3,623 | $4,607 | $51,910 |
| Toy PoodleAKC #6 · toy | $2,582 | $3,519 | $38,339 |
| BeagleAKC #7 · small | $2,483 | $3,420 | $32,596 |
| RottweilerAKC #8 · giant | $3,310 | $4,319 | $36,293 |
| German Shorthaired PointerAKC #9 · large | $3,064 | $4,048 | $41,599 |
| BulldogAKC #10 · medium | $2,691 | $3,630 | $27,590 |
| Cane CorsoAKC #11 · giant | $3,453 | $4,462 | $28,970 |
| Cavalier King Charles SpanielAKC #12 · small | $2,695 | $3,632 | $33,513 |
| Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)AKC #13 · toy | $2,534 | $3,471 | $35,736 |
Cheapest to keep in Arkansas
- 01Chihuahua$2,109
- 02Russian Toy$2,152
- 03Toy Fox Terrier$2,173
Most expensive to keep in Arkansas
- 01Black Russian Terrier$4,396
- 02Leonberger$4,096
- 03Komondor$4,090
State pages use one price index for all of Arkansas; a big-city clinic and a rural one can differ more than any two states. How the state adjustment works.