It's a fact - owning a pet can be expensive. For some cities though, the high cost of living can make this even worse. A recent study by GOBankingRates ranks the most and least expensive U.S. cities to own a cat or dog. Let's take a look!

If you wanted to know how your city ranks when it comes to the cost of owning a pet, then you've come to the right place.

The cost of pet ownership

Life can be expensive. So too can owning a pet. Add the two together and it's not always a walk in the park!

In its study, GOBankingRates looked at three factors when considering the 50 largest cities in the U.S. They included the cost of day care for pets, pet insurance, and the overall cost of living. Here is their ranking of the least and most expensive cities to own a cat or dog in the U.S.

Source: GoBankingRates.com

Top 3 least expensive cities

Let's start with the good news. These are the three least expensive cities in the U.S. to live with your fur friend(s).

1. Indianapolis, Indiana

According to GOBankingRates, this is the number one spot when it comes to cost of living for you and you pet. While not affordable for all, the average cost of day care for your pet will be around $19 (compared to $40 in St Jose). Insurance will set you back around $31.50 per month. Additionally, you can also give your doggo some fantastic walks with many dog-friendly parks and activities in the city.

2. Wichita, Kansas

Ranking no. 2 is Wichita, also known as the Air Capital. Despite its name, prices also don’t fly as high when it comes to pets. That said, you'll still part with around $29.50 in monthly pet insurance costs. Interestingly, Wichita is the only city that came in under $30 for pet insurance. The cost of pet day care comes in at around $23. Furthermore, the cost of living index is relatively low in Wichita, helping it come in at the no. 2 spot.

3. Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha makes it to rank 3 with monthly pet insurance averaging $30.50. However, if you have a cat, a more stomachable $27 will be on the cards for you and your kitty. The average cost of pet day care stands at $22.67. Not bad overall.

Top 3 most expensive cities

Now onto the bad news… and our West Coast friends take the brunt being on the less affordable side of the continent. In fact, and probably not surprisingly, the three most expensive cities are all from California. They all sport a higher cost of living index as well as steep insurance costs.

1. San Jose, California

Despite being a beautiful, dog-friendly city on many fronts, your wallet may suffer if you own a dog in San Jose. The average cost of pet day care reaches a staggering $40 while insurance usually comes in at around $42. Add to that the higher cost of living and we've got our number one most expensive city on the table.

2. San Francisco, California

Another great city with many beautiful places to walk your pooch, San Fran also comes in high on the expensive list. And that's whether or not you have a pet! Second to New York as the most expensive city to live in, adding a pet doesn't help. Monthly insurance rounds out at approximately $42 while the average cost of pet day care is $36. Ouchies!

3. Oakland, California

And California again... Hello Oakland! Pet services are noted as being quite pricey in addition to high monthly insurance costs (average $42), as well as one of the highest doggy day care averages - a staggering $45 / per day! However, Oakland is more affordable to live in than both San Francisco and San Jose, so it does balance out a little.

Is cost all that matters?

To see the full list of GoBankingRates most and least expensive cities to own a pet, click here.

In the end, what usually hurts our wallets the most is the general cost of living. This is usually what determines whether or not you can afford your pet related expenses.

In any case, there are plenty more factors to consider when adopting a pet, beyond those that are financially motivated. Take a read of this article before bringing your new fur friend home to ensure you cover all bases and give you and your pet the best life together.

Where does your city rank on the cost of pet ownership?

Source: Pets+ Mag

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