Pet Care Comparisons by City (2026)
Three decisions every pet owner in a major US city faces. The right answer depends on where you live — costs vary enough across 15 cities that national averages are nearly useless.
Emergency Vet vs Regular Vet
How much more does an emergency visit cost vs a routine appointment in each city?
Austin
TX · $813/yr
Chicago
IL · $909/yr
Dallas
TX · $769/yr
Denver
CO · $935/yr
Houston
TX · $760/yr
Los Angeles
CA · $1,147/yr
Nashville
TN · $777/yr
New York City
NY · $1,157/yr
Philadelphia
PA · $867/yr
Phoenix
AZ · $793/yr
San Antonio
TX · $715/yr
San Diego
CA · $1,115/yr
San Francisco
CA · $1,333/yr
Seattle
WA · $987/yr
Washington DC
DC · $1,127/yr
Pet Insurance vs Out-of-Pocket
When does pet insurance pay off in each city vs paying every bill yourself?
Austin
TX · $813/yr
Chicago
IL · $909/yr
Dallas
TX · $769/yr
Denver
CO · $935/yr
Houston
TX · $760/yr
Los Angeles
CA · $1,147/yr
Nashville
TN · $777/yr
New York City
NY · $1,157/yr
Philadelphia
PA · $867/yr
Phoenix
AZ · $793/yr
San Antonio
TX · $715/yr
San Diego
CA · $1,115/yr
San Francisco
CA · $1,333/yr
Seattle
WA · $987/yr
Washington DC
DC · $1,127/yr
Mobile Vet vs Clinic Visit
House-call vets charge more per visit — but is the convenience worth it in your city?
Austin
TX · $813/yr
Chicago
IL · $909/yr
Dallas
TX · $769/yr
Denver
CO · $935/yr
Houston
TX · $760/yr
Los Angeles
CA · $1,147/yr
Nashville
TN · $777/yr
New York City
NY · $1,157/yr
Philadelphia
PA · $867/yr
Phoenix
AZ · $793/yr
San Antonio
TX · $715/yr
San Diego
CA · $1,115/yr
San Francisco
CA · $1,333/yr
Seattle
WA · $987/yr
Washington DC
DC · $1,127/yr
Why national averages don't cut it
Annual vet spending ranges from $715/year in San Antonio to $1,333/year in San Francisco — an 86% gap. Pet insurance premiums, mobile vet travel fees, and emergency clinic surcharges all scale with local cost of living. A rule-of-thumb from a national article may be exactly wrong for your city.