If you’ve ever wondered whether pet insurance is worth the cost, the first step is knowing what you’re actually going to pay. Prices swing wildly based on where you live, what kind of pet you have, and what coverage you pick — but the national averages give you a solid starting point. The average cost of pet insurance in the U.S. is $49.51 per month (about $594 per year) for dogs and $28.48 per month (about $342 per year) for cats on a standard accident-and-illness plan. The market has also grown fast — insured pets increased at an annual rate of roughly 23% over a recent five-year stretch — so more owners than ever are crunching these numbers.
Key average pet insurance cost statistics in America
Here’s the data you’ll want to bookmark. These figures come from industry reports published by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) and supplemental quote research across major insurers.
National averages
- The average monthly premium for dog accident-and-illness coverage is $49.51, or $594 per year.
- The average monthly premium for cat accident-and-illness coverage is $28.48, or $342 per year.
- Accident-only dog coverage averages $18.17 per month, or $218 per year.
- Accident-only cat coverage averages $11.13 per month, or $134 per year.
- Average annual premium growth across all pet insurance products has run about 3.2% per year over a recent six-year period.
- Dog insurance premiums grew at an average annual rate of 3.3%; cat premiums grew at 3.0%.
Dog insurance by insurer (accident-and-illness, sample profile: male 5-year-old Labrador Retriever in Chicago)
| Item | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | $49.08/month ($589/year) |
| Figo | $52.19/month ($626/year) |
| PetPartners | $61.79/month ($741/year) |
| Pets Best | $62.03/month ($744/year) |
| Embrace | $63.85/month ($766/year) |
| 24PetWatch | $68.68/month ($824/year) |
| Healthy Paws | $69.13/month ($830/year) |
| PetPlan | $80.63/month ($968/year) |
| ASPCA | $91.31/month ($1,096/year) |
| PetFirst | $92.35/month ($1,108/year) |
| Nationwide | $121.21/month ($1,455/year) |
| Trupanion | $165.11/month ($1,981/year) |
Cat insurance by insurer (accident-and-illness, sample profile: male 5-year-old Exotic in Chicago)
| Item | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | $19.83/month ($238/year) |
| PetPartners | $24.11/month ($289/year) |
| Figo | $25.53/month ($306/year) |
| Domestic Shorthair baseline | $26.23/month |
| Healthy Paws | $27.29/month ($327/year) |
| Pets Best | $29.20/month ($350/year) |
| PetFirst | $39.56/month ($475/year) |
| PetPlan | $39.15/month ($470/year) |
| 24PetWatch | $40.12/month ($481/year) |
| Embrace | $41.36/month ($496/year) |
| ASPCA | $49.19/month ($590/year) |
| Nationwide | $68.23/month ($819/year) |
| Trupanion | $80.84/month ($970/year) |
Quote assumptions: $10,000 annual benefit maximum, 70% reimbursement rate, $250 annual deductible. Some insurers used slightly different plan structures — see the methodology section for details.
Dog insurance by breed
| Item | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Yorkshire Terrier | $52.47/month ($630/year) |
| Australian Shepherd | $58.81/month ($706/year) |
| Beagle | $71.81/month ($862/year) |
| Dachshund | $64.29/month ($771/year) |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | $75.77/month ($909/year) |
| Poodle | $74.89/month ($899/year) |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | $68.93/month ($827/year) |
| German Shepherd | $79.84/month ($958/year) |
| Golden Retriever | $82.80/month ($994/year) |
| Labrador Retriever | $85.15/month ($1,022/year) |
| Boxer | $103.19/month ($1,238/year) |
| French Bulldog | $110.70/month ($1,328/year) |
| Doberman Pinscher | $112.24/month ($1,347/year) |
| English Bulldog | $116.29/month ($1,395/year) |
| Rottweiler | $124.12/month ($1,489/year) |
Cat insurance by breed
| Item | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Domestic Shorthair | $26.23/month ($315/year) |
| Siamese | $29.97/month ($360/year) |
| American Shorthair | $30.39/month ($365/year) |
| Ragdoll | $32.86/month ($394/year) |
| Russian Blue | $33.76/month ($405/year) |
| Bombay | $33.89/month ($407/year) |
| Bengal | $35.44/month ($425/year) |
| British Shorthair | $36.15/month ($434/year) |
| Persian | $36.29/month ($435/year) |
| Scottish Fold | $36.47/month ($438/year) |
| Sphynx | $36.65/month ($440/year) |
| Maine Coon | $38.50/month ($462/year) |
| Abyssinian | $39.41/month ($473/year) |
| Devon Rex | $42.77/month ($513/year) |
| Exotic | $44.03/month ($528/year) |
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Average pet insurance cost statistics by gender
One factor that doesn’t get talked about much is your pet’s sex — but insurers do price it differently. Male pets generally file more claims than female pets, and that risk gets priced into premiums. It’s not a massive difference in every case, but if you have an intact male of a large or high-risk breed, you’re likely looking at a noticeably higher quote than you’d get for a female of the same breed and age.
The insurer quote data used in the research was collected using male sample profiles for both dogs and cats — a 5-year-old male Labrador Retriever and a 5-year-old male Exotic cat, both based in Chicago. The monthly averages those profiles produced were:
- Male dog (Labrador Retriever, 5 years, Chicago): average monthly quotes ranged from $49.08 to $165.11
- Male cat (Exotic, 5 years, Chicago): average monthly quotes ranged from $19.83 to $80.84
Industry research consistently shows that male pets tend to have higher average premiums than female pets because of higher claim frequency. The gap varies by species and breed, but it’s one more reason to get quotes for your specific animal rather than relying solely on species-level averages.
Other demographic factors that intersect with gender pricing:
- Neutered or spayed pets may see modest premium adjustments depending on the insurer, since altered pets often have lower risk profiles for certain conditions.
- Male dogs of large, muscular breeds — like Rottweilers ($124.12/month) and English Bulldogs ($116.29/month) — tend to represent the highest-cost combination of gender and breed risk.
- For cats, intact males are more prone to urinary tract issues, one of the top-ten most-claimed conditions, which can push premiums higher.
Bottom line: gender alone won’t double your premium, but it stacks on top of breed, age, and location to shape your final quote. Always run your specific pet’s details through a Compare Pet Insurance Quotes Online comparison tool before assuming you’ll pay close to the national average.
Average pet insurance cost statistics by state and city
Where you live can shift your premium by hundreds of dollars a year. Urban areas with higher veterinary labor costs tend to have higher premiums, and some states have regulatory environments that push prices up or down. Here’s a look at how costs break down across major U.S. cities for dogs and for cats.
Dogs: highest and lowest monthly premiums by city
Most expensive cities for dog insurance:
| City | Monthly Premium | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $87.53 | $1,050 |
| Chicago, IL | $85.15 | $1,022 |
| Washington, D.C. | $75.67 | $908 |
| Dallas, TX | $70.78 | $849 |
| San Francisco, CA | $71.19 | $854 |
Least expensive cities for dog insurance:
| City | Monthly Premium | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $47.52 | $570 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $48.28 | $579 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $50.90 | $611 |
| Memphis, TN | $57.72 | $693 |
| Seattle, WA | $57.70 | $692 |
The spread between New York and Oklahoma City is nearly $40 per month — that’s close to $480 per year for the exact same dog and the same coverage terms. Location matters more than most people realize.
Cats: highest and lowest monthly premiums by city
Most expensive cities for cat insurance:
| City | Monthly Premium | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $46.24 | $555 |
| Chicago, IL | $44.03 | $528 |
| Washington, D.C. | $41.26 | $495 |
| Austin, TX | $35.88 | $431 |
| San Francisco, CA | $36.48 | $438 |
Least expensive cities for cat insurance:
| City | Monthly Premium | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $24.44 | $293 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $26.04 | $312 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $27.86 | $334 |
| Memphis, TN | $31.48 | $378 |
| Nashville, TN | $31.48 | $378 |
The full dataset of 25 major cities shows the same pattern across both species: Midwestern and Southern cities are consistently cheaper, while coastal metros and Chicago run significantly higher, making it worth comparing options like Best Pet Insurance In Alabama For Cats & Dogs! if you live in a lower-cost region. If you’re in a high-cost city, it’s worth shopping more aggressively across multiple insurers — the variance between providers in expensive markets is also larger in absolute dollar terms.
Average pet insurance cost statistics by income and demographics
Pet insurance adoption and cost tolerance vary a lot depending on household income and life stage. While premium pricing itself doesn’t change based on your income (insurers don’t know your salary), the decision to insure — and at what coverage level — does correlate with economic factors.
Coverage level choices by economic profile:
- Higher-income households are more likely to choose accident-and-illness plans over accident-only plans. The premium difference is substantial: dog accident-only plans average just $18.17/month vs. $49.51/month for full coverage — a gap of more than $31 per month or about $374 per year.
- For cats, accident-only plans average $11.13/month vs. $28.48/month for accident-and-illness — a difference of over $17/month or roughly $208 per year.
- Budget-conscious pet owners often use higher deductibles to lower premiums. Choosing a higher deductible reduces the monthly payment but increases your out-of-pocket cost when you actually file a claim.
- Reimbursement rates are another lever: insurers typically offer between 60% and 90%, with lower rates meaning lower premiums. Moving from a 90% reimbursement rate to a 70% rate can meaningfully reduce your monthly bill.
Why this matters for vet bills:
The financial stakes are real regardless of income level. Industry claim data shows that the highest covered claims for common dog conditions include:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stomach issues | up to $29,086 in covered claims |
| Cancer | up to $21,644 |
| Heart conditions | up to $18,027 |
| Cranial cruciate ligament injury | up to $12,972 |
| Ear infections | up to $12,954 |
For cats, the numbers are similarly sobering:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stomach issues | up to $24,402 in covered claims |
| Kidney conditions | up to $14,737 |
| Urinary tract conditions | up to $12,587 |
| Cancer | up to $11,643 |
| Diabetes | up to $9,610 |
Even an accident-only plan at $11–$18/month provides a cushion against sudden, large out-of-pocket costs. For households where a $5,000 vet bill would be financially devastating, even a basic policy can make a meaningful difference.
Average pet insurance cost trends over time
Pet insurance premiums haven’t been static — they’ve been creeping upward gradually, while the overall market has been growing fast. Here’s what the historical data shows.
Premium trend: dogs (accident-and-illness)
| Year | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $465.02 |
| 2016 | $517.63 |
| 2017 | $544.85 |
| 2018 | $558.93 |
| 2019 | $585.40 |
| 2020 | $594.15 |
Average annual growth rate over this six-year window: 5.1%
Premium trend: cats (accident-and-illness)
| Year | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $316.30 |
| 2016 | $321.27 |
| 2017 | $342.37 |
| 2018 | $349.34 |
| 2019 | $349.93 |
| 2020 | $341.81 |
Average annual growth rate over this six-year window: 1.6%
Premium trend: dogs (accident-only)
| Year | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $164.16 |
| 2016 | $168.35 |
| 2017 | $190.08 |
| 2018 | $190.02 |
| 2019 | $194.09 |
| 2020 | $218.13 |
Average annual growth rate: 6.0%
Premium trend: cats (accident-only)
| Year | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $135.85 |
| 2016 | $149.51 |
| 2017 | $152.66 |
| 2018 | $140.87 |
| 2019 | $126.08 |
| 2020 | $133.61 |
Average annual growth rate: 0.0% (flat over the period, with volatility)
A few things jump out from this data. Dog accident-and-illness premiums have climbed fairly steadily, growing from $465 in 2015 to $594 in 2020 — an increase of about $129, or 28%, over five years. Cat premiums have been much more stable, essentially flat over the same period. Dog accident-only costs spiked sharply in 2020, while cat accident-only plans wobbled without a clear trend.
The bigger picture: The insured pet population has grown at roughly 23.2% per year over a recent five-year period. That kind of market expansion means more insurers entering the space, which historically creates competitive pressure on pricing — but rising veterinary costs have largely offset that, keeping premiums in a modest upward trend for dogs. If you locked in a policy a few years ago, your renewal rates are probably higher than what you started paying.
Frequently asked questions
How much does pet insurance cost per month on average?
The national average is about $49.51 per month for dogs and $28.48 per month for cats on an accident-and-illness plan. Accident-only coverage is roughly $18.17/month for dogs and $11.13/month for cats. Your actual quote depends on breed, age, location, and the insurer you choose.
What’s the cheapest pet insurance you can get?
Accident-only plans are the most affordable option, starting as low as $11/month for cats and under $18/month for dogs at the national average. In lower-cost cities like Oklahoma City, quotes for dogs on accident-and-illness plans start around $47.52/month. Budget-friendly insurers like Lemonade quoted as low as $49.08/month for dogs and $19.83/month for cats in the sample data.
Does breed really affect what I pay for pet insurance?
Yes, significantly. Dog premiums ranged from $52.47/month for a Yorkshire Terrier to $124.12/month for a Rottweiler in industry quote research — a difference of over $70/month. For cats, the range was $26.23/month (Domestic Shorthair) to $44.03/month (Exotic). Breeds with known genetic health risks cost more to insure.
What does pet insurance actually cover?
Standard accident-and-illness plans typically cover accidents, injuries, illnesses, lab work, X-rays, prescriptions, surgeries, hospitalizations, and dental work. Some policies include routine preventative care. What’s generally not covered: pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, and liability if your pet injures someone (that’s usually covered under homeowners or renters insurance instead).
Does where I live change my pet insurance rate?
Quite a bit. Dog insurance in New York City averages $87.53/month vs. $47.52/month in Oklahoma City — nearly double. Vet costs are higher in dense urban markets, and insurers price accordingly. Even within the same state, city vs. rural location can meaningfully shift your quote.
Is pet insurance worth it given the monthly cost?
It depends on your financial situation and your pet’s health risk. The highest covered claims for common dog conditions have reached nearly $30,000 for stomach issues and over $21,000 for cancer. Even at $50/month, you’d pay $600/year — which is a fraction of a major vet bill. For high-risk breeds or older pets, the math tends to favor coverage.
Methodology
The national average premium figures (by coverage type and year, 2015–2020) are sourced from data published by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) in their State of the Industry Report. Insurer-specific quote estimates were collected across 12 major pet insurance providers using standardized sample profiles: a male 5-year-old Labrador Retriever (dogs) and a male 5-year-old Exotic cat (cats), both located in Chicago, Illinois, in good health with no pre-existing conditions. Coverage options were set at $10,000 in annual benefits, 70% reimbursement, and a $250 annual deductible where applicable. Some insurers required slightly different plan configurations (see key stats section for details). City-level and breed-level figures were derived from the same quote methodology applied across 25 major U.S. cities and 15 popular breeds per species. Common health condition claim data comes from the Healthy Paws 2019 Cost of Pet Health Care Report. Quote data reflects pricing available during the research collection period and may not reflect current market rates.
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