VetCostCalc
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Vet Cost Affordability by State: All 50 Grades

Every state graded A+ through F based on what vet care actually costs vs. what people earn. The grade isn't about raw prices. A $620/year state with low incomes can score worse than an $900/year state where paychecks are bigger.

Grade scale (vet spending as % of median income vs. national average of 1.09%)

A+
25%+ below
A
10-25% below
B
0-10% below
C
0-10% above
D
10-25% above
F
25%+ above

All 50 States + DC, Most Affordable First

1
A
North Dakota
$650
0.89%
2
A
Utah
$780
0.9%
3
A
Kansas
$660
0.93%
4
A
Wyoming
$700
0.94%
5
A
Iowa
$660
0.94%
6
A
Minnesota
$790
0.94%
7
A
South Dakota
$650
0.95%
8
A
Nebraska
$680
0.95%
9
B
Maryland
$980
0.99%
10
B
New Hampshire
$920
0.99%
11
B
New Jersey
$1,020
1.0%
12
B
Idaho
$680
1.0%
13
B
Hawaii
$960
1.01%
14
B
Washington
$920
1.02%
15
B
Wisconsin
$740
1.02%
16
B
Alaska
$890
1.02%
17
B
Missouri
$680
1.03%
18
B
Texas
$760
1.03%
19
B
Indiana
$690
1.03%
20
B
Georgia
$730
1.03%
21
B
Virginia
$910
1.04%
22
B
Colorado
$920
1.05%
23
B
Arizona
$780
1.07%
24
B
Ohio
$730
1.07%
25
B
Montana
$710
1.07%
26
B
Oklahoma
$660
1.08%
27
B
Kentucky
$650
1.08%
28
B
North Carolina
$720
1.08%
29
B
Illinois
$850
1.08%
30
B
District of Columbia
$1,100
1.08%
31
B
Alabama
$650
1.09%
32
C
Michigan
$740
1.1%
33
C
Tennessee
$700
1.1%
34
C
South Carolina
$700
1.1%
35
C
Nevada
$800
1.11%
36
C
Arkansas
$640
1.11%
37
C
Vermont
$840
1.12%
38
C
Massachusetts
$1,080
1.12%
39
C
Rhode Island
$900
1.12%
40
C
Oregon
$870
1.13%
41
C
Louisiana
$660
1.14%
42
C
Delaware
$910
1.15%
43
C
West Virginia
$620
1.15%
44
C
Connecticut
$1,050
1.16%
45
C
Pennsylvania
$850
1.17%
46
C
Maine
$820
1.17%
47
C
Florida
$810
1.19%
48
C
Mississippi
$620
1.2%
49
D
New Mexico
$710
1.24%
50
D
California
$1,080
1.28%
51
D
New York
$1,060
1.35%

Sources: AVMA Pet Expenditure Survey 2025 (vet costs); U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 (median household income).

20 Largest Metros, Ranked

1 A Seattle, WA $1,050/yr 0.95% 2 A San Jose, CA $1,150/yr 0.98% 3 B San Francisco, CA $1,350/yr 0.99% 4 B Austin, TX $860/yr 1.06% 5 C Charlotte, NC $750/yr 1.12% 6 C San Diego, CA $1,050/yr 1.17% 7 D Fort Worth, TX $800/yr 1.28% 8 D Indianapolis, IN $720/yr 1.29% 9 D Columbus, OH $760/yr 1.3% 10 D Denver, CO $960/yr 1.32% 11 D Phoenix, AZ $820/yr 1.32% 12 D Jacksonville, FL $780/yr 1.33% 13 F San Antonio, TX $750/yr 1.4% 14 F Boston, MA $1,180/yr 1.43% 15 F Dallas, TX $820/yr 1.43% 16 F Houston, TX $800/yr 1.43% 17 F Chicago, IL $920/yr 1.46% 18 F Los Angeles, CA $1,100/yr 1.54% 19 F Philadelphia, PA $920/yr 1.75% 20 F New York City, NY $1,250/yr 1.77%

What does this mean for your budget?

These grades use median income. Your actual vet cost burden depends on your income, number of pets, and how often they need care. Run the numbers.

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