Cost of owning a dog in South Carolina
Services in South Carolina are priced at 98.3% 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 | $785 | 30% |
| InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state | $822 | 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 | $316 | 12% |
Where South Carolina sits
| Services price level | 98.3 |
| Rank among 51 (1 = cheapest) | #17 |
| All-items price level | 93.7 |
| Goods price level | 96.3 |
| Housing rents level | 80.5 |
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 South Carolina
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 | $2,509 | $3,470 | $25,900 |
| Labrador RetrieverAKC #2 · large | $3,246 | $4,254 | $42,939 |
| Golden RetrieverAKC #3 · large | $2,973 | $3,981 | $40,943 |
| German Shepherd DogAKC #4 · large | $3,264 | $4,272 | $37,489 |
| DachshundAKC #5 · small | $2,497 | $3,458 | $34,935 |
| Miniature PoodleAKC #6 · small | $2,800 | $3,761 | $41,253 |
| Standard PoodleAKC #6 · large | $3,689 | $4,697 | $52,906 |
| Toy PoodleAKC #6 · toy | $2,641 | $3,602 | $39,237 |
| BeagleAKC #7 · small | $2,529 | $3,490 | $33,226 |
| RottweilerAKC #8 · giant | $3,353 | $4,386 | $36,793 |
| German Shorthaired PointerAKC #9 · large | $3,107 | $4,115 | $42,242 |
| BulldogAKC #10 · medium | $2,734 | $3,697 | $28,050 |
| Cane CorsoAKC #11 · giant | $3,496 | $4,529 | $29,343 |
| Cavalier King Charles SpanielAKC #12 · small | $2,754 | $3,715 | $34,260 |
| Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)AKC #13 · toy | $2,592 | $3,553 | $36,574 |
Cheapest to keep in South Carolina
- 01Chihuahua$2,154
- 02Russian Toy$2,198
- 03Toy Fox Terrier$2,219
Most expensive to keep in South Carolina
- 01Black Russian Terrier$4,468
- 02Komondor$4,162
- 03Leonberger$4,157
State pages use one price index for all of South Carolina; a big-city clinic and a rural one can differ more than any two states. How the state adjustment works.