Cheapest Dog Breeds to Own in Australia

How much does a dog cost per year in Australia?

The best national figure comes from Animal Medicines Australia's Pets in Australia study, released on 18 September 2025. It estimated that dog-owning households spent about $2,520 a year on average, more than any other group of pet owners. Across all pets, Australians spent an estimated $21.3 billion a year, and food made up almost half of that at $9.8 billion.

RSPCA NSW publishes an item-by-item guide that puts the first year of owning a dog at $1,979 to $3,001, covering microchipping, vaccinations, puppy school, desexing, parasite prevention, food, registration and basic gear. The page is undated (read 10 November 2026), and RSPCA NSW says its figures are approximate and purely a guide.

Averages and guides, not a quote. Your costs depend on the dog, where you live and the vet you use. Put your own numbers into the dog cost calculator.

Why the purchase price is the small part

Spread over a dog's life, what you pay to get the dog is usually a small share of what you pay to keep it. Food, parasite prevention and vaccinations come round every year, and an expensive breed health problem can cost more in one visit than the dog did. That is why a “cheap” dog from a private ad can end up the dearest dog you ever own.

Rescues make this point with their own numbers. Hunter Animal Rescue lists what the vet work included in its fee would cost if you paid for it yourself: a microchip, two vaccinations, worming, flea treatment, desexing and a health check come to $510 to $700, against its puppy adoption fee of $580 (undated page, read 10 November 2026; not a quote). A free puppy that needs all of that is not free.

What makes some dog breeds cheaper to own?

Four things drive most of the difference in running costs between breeds.

• Size and food. Food is the biggest single line in Australian pet spending, according to Animal Medicines Australia. A larger dog eats more, and many medications and parasite treatments are sold by body weight.
• Coat and grooming. A short, smooth coat needs a brush at home. A long or curly coat needs regular clipping, which RSPCA NSW prices at $70 to $150 a visit, up to six times a year for some dogs.
• Breed health problems. Some breeds are built in a way that brings vet bills. The RSPCA Knowledgebase says the exaggerated features of flat-faced breeds cause health and welfare problems, that some of these dogs need specialised veterinary care, and that they may need lifelong daily care from their owners.
• Insurance. RSPCA Pet Insurance says it considers age, breed and health, and that pre-existing symptoms or conditions generally are not covered. Moneysmart adds that most policies have waiting periods, benefit limits and exclusions. A breed with known health problems tends to cost more to insure, and those problems are exactly what a policy may exclude.

Cheap dog breeds to own: the low-upkeep list

There is no official ranking of the cheapest breeds, so this table scores breeds on the drivers above, using the coat and temperament wording in each Dogs Australia breed standard. These breeds and their crosses also turn up regularly in Australian rescue, which keeps the entry cost low.

Coat wording from the Dogs Australia breed standards, checked 10 November 2026. The other columns are our editorial summary of the cost drivers above, not a ranking. Individual dogs vary.

Which dog breeds cost the most to keep?

• Flat-faced breeds. Pugs, French Bulldogs and British Bulldogs are small or medium, but the RSPCA Knowledgebase warns that their features cause breathing and welfare problems that may need specialised vet care. They are often expensive to buy as well.
• Coats that need clipping. Maltese, Poodles and doodles such as the Cavoodle hold their hair instead of shedding it. The Maltese standard describes a coat of “good length” and “silky texture” (standard). That means a standing grooming appointment for life.
• Giant breeds. A Great Dane or other giant eats far more than a small dog, and weight-based medication costs scale with it.

None of these are bad dogs. They are simply dearer to run, and it is better to know that before you fall for one.

Are mixed breed dogs cheaper?

Often cheaper to get, and sometimes cheaper to keep. Crosses and mixes make up a large share of the dogs listed by the rescues we aggregate, and rescue fees are a fraction of most breeder prices. Running costs depend on the individual dog: a short-coated Staffy, Kelpie or Cattle Dog cross can be among the cheapest dogs you can own, while a curly-coated Poodle cross needs the same clipping as a purebred Poodle.

Be wary of any claim that a cross is automatically healthier. Look at the actual dog: its coat, its size, its face shape and what the rescue's vet check found. Browse the mixed breed dogs and low maintenance dogs listed right now, and see our low maintenance dog breeds guide for the time side of the same question.

Adoption fees: the cheapest way to get a dog

An adoption fee usually buys a dog that is already desexed, microchipped, vaccinated and vet checked, which is work you would otherwise pay for. These are fees each shelter published on its own site.

Fees published by each organisation on the date shown. Reference only, not a quote: fees change, promotions run, and many dogs are priced on their own listing.

Two patterns stand out. Adult and senior dogs cost less to adopt than puppies, and they skip the puppy costs of vaccinations, puppy school and chewed belongings. And registration can be cheaper too: in NSW, a desexed dog sold by an eligible council pound, shelter or approved rehoming organisation has a $0 registration fee, against $84 otherwise, according to the NSW Office of Local Government. Our adopting a dog guide covers fees and registration in every state, and the Greyhound adoption guide covers the racing adoption programs.

Adoption is not the only sensible route. If you need a particular breed's predictable size, coat or working ability, a breeder registered with Dogs Australia through its state body is a reasonable choice, and a well-bred puppy with health-tested parents can save money later. Our puppies for sale guide explains how to check a breeder and avoid scams.

How to keep the cost of a dog down

• Adopt a desexed adult. It skips desexing, the puppy vaccination course and most of the puppy-stage damage. Our dog desexing cost guide shows what that one job alone costs. Senior dogs are often the cheapest to adopt; see the senior dog adoption guide.
• Keep up preventive care. Annual checks, vaccinations and parasite prevention catch problems while they are cheap to fix. Ask your vet what your dog needs.
• Choose a coat you can brush at home. It is the easiest recurring cost to avoid.
• Feed to the dog, not the bowl. A dog kept at a healthy weight is cheaper to feed and less likely to need treatment for weight-related problems. Ask your vet for a target weight.
• Plan for the big bill. Decide early whether to insure or save, and know where the low-cost clinics are. Our cheap vet care guide lists charity clinics and payment options in every state.

Before you choose, run the numbers for the dog you have in mind with the dog cost calculator, and if this is your first dog, read the best dogs for first time owners and try the adoption readiness check.