Cost of owning a dog in Colorado
Services in Colorado are priced at 99.6% 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 | $790 | 30% |
| InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state | $833 | 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 | $321 | 12% |
Where Colorado sits
| Services price level | 99.6 |
| Rank among 51 (1 = cheapest) | #26 |
| All-items price level | 103.1 |
| Goods price level | 98.7 |
| Housing rents level | 127.4 |
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 Colorado
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 | $2,530 | $3,502 | $26,122 |
| Labrador RetrieverAKC #2 · large | $3,266 | $4,285 | $43,232 |
| Golden RetrieverAKC #3 · large | $2,993 | $4,012 | $41,239 |
| German Shepherd DogAKC #4 · large | $3,284 | $4,303 | $37,739 |
| DachshundAKC #5 · small | $2,518 | $3,490 | $35,239 |
| Miniature PoodleAKC #6 · small | $2,828 | $3,800 | $41,674 |
| Standard PoodleAKC #6 · large | $3,719 | $4,738 | $53,361 |
| Toy PoodleAKC #6 · toy | $2,669 | $3,641 | $39,664 |
| BeagleAKC #7 · small | $2,550 | $3,522 | $33,513 |
| RottweilerAKC #8 · giant | $3,373 | $4,417 | $37,027 |
| German Shorthaired PointerAKC #9 · large | $3,127 | $4,146 | $42,543 |
| BulldogAKC #10 · medium | $2,755 | $3,729 | $28,270 |
| Cane CorsoAKC #11 · giant | $3,516 | $4,560 | $29,517 |
| Cavalier King Charles SpanielAKC #12 · small | $2,780 | $3,752 | $34,589 |
| Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)AKC #13 · toy | $2,618 | $3,590 | $36,952 |
Cheapest to keep in Colorado
- 01Chihuahua$2,175
- 02Russian Toy$2,219
- 03Toy Fox Terrier$2,240
Most expensive to keep in Colorado
- 01Black Russian Terrier$4,500
- 02Komondor$4,194
- 03Leonberger$4,185
State pages use one price index for all of Colorado; a big-city clinic and a rural one can differ more than any two states. How the state adjustment works.