General & Any Policy
Pet Insurance Cost Estimator
Estimates based on MoneyGeek 2026 breed, age, and state pricing data.
See what pet insurance is likely to cost you, based on your dog or cat's breed and age, and your state.
Data sourced from MoneyGeek
Estimated monthly pet insurance cost
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How this is calculated
Source: MoneyGeek 2026 breed, age, and state pricing data · Last updated 2026-08-20 · See how we calculate this →
What drives the cost of pet insurance
Pet insurance pricing depends on a smaller, more predictable set of factors than most insurance products, which is part of why breed, age, and location estimates can get reasonably close to a real quote.
According to MoneyGeek's 2026 pricing data, the national average accident-and-illness policy runs about $61 a month for dogs and $32 a month for cats, under a standard $5,000 annual coverage limit, $500 deductible, and 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs cost roughly double what cats cost to insure across the board, driven by higher average claim frequency and severity.
Breed is the single biggest lever within a species. Small, mixed-breed dogs with few hereditary conditions sit at the low end, while giant and flat-faced breeds sit at the high end.
MoneyGeek's breed-level data shows a wide spread, toy and small breeds like the Chihuahua or Shih Tzu price well under the dog average, while giant breeds like the Great Dane, Saint Bernard, and English Mastiff price two to three times over it, driven by their well-documented higher rates of joint, cardiac, and other large-breed health issues.
Flat-faced breeds like the French Bulldog price high too, for a different reason: a well-documented tendency toward breathing and skin problems. Cat breed pricing spreads less dramatically, but follows a similar pattern, common shorthairs and Siamese sit near the low end, while breeds like the Sphynx, Abyssinian, and Maine Coon run somewhat higher.
Age is the factor every pet owner should plan around, since it moves in one direction only. Premiums stay relatively flat and low through a pet's first several years, then climb noticeably starting around age 6 to 7 as the odds of an age-related condition rise, and climb faster still into the senior years.
MoneyGeek's age-based data shows monthly cost for a typical pet rising roughly two-thirds between age 6 and age 10, and nearly tripling by age 15 (from age 1 alone to age 14, the increase is a full 4x).
Enrolling a pet while it is young and healthy locks in a lower starting point and avoids the pre-existing condition exclusions that would apply to anything diagnosed before coverage begins, it does not stop future premium increases, but it means paying less in total over the pet's life than enrolling later.
Location affects pet insurance the same way it affects most insurance products, through regional differences in veterinary costs and typical claim amounts. MoneyGeek's state data shows a roughly two-to-one spread between the least and most expensive states, with the District of Columbia, Washington, and Massachusetts pricing well above the national average, and states like Alabama, Arkansas, and North Dakota pricing well below it.
As with any estimate, your actual quote will also reflect the specific insurer, your pet's individual health history, and the exact deductible and reimbursement percentage you choose, both of which you can typically adjust up or down to trade cost against out-of-pocket risk.
Use this estimate to set expectations before you start comparing real quotes, not as a substitute for one.
Frequently asked questions
Why is dog insurance so much more expensive than cat insurance?
Dogs generally have higher veterinary claim frequency and severity than cats, larger breeds especially carry more orthopedic and hereditary conditions that lead to costly treatment. Across the industry, dog premiums run roughly double cat premiums for a comparable policy.
Why does my breed matter so much?
Breed correlates strongly with the odds and cost of future claims. Flat-faced breeds like French Bulldogs face higher rates of breathing and skin problems, giant breeds face more joint and cardiac issues, and small mixed breeds tend to have fewer breed-linked hereditary conditions, which is reflected directly in the premium.
Should I enroll my pet when it is young?
Yes, enrolling while your pet is young and healthy locks in a lower starting rate and avoids pre-existing condition exclusions that would apply to any issue that shows up before you have coverage.
Premiums do rise every year as your pet ages, most noticeably after around age 6 to 7, but starting early still means paying less in total over your pet's life than waiting.
Does raising my deductible actually save much?
Yes, similar to auto or home insurance, a higher deductible and a lower reimbursement percentage both reduce your monthly premium meaningfully. This estimate uses a standard $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement, your own insurer will let you adjust both and see the tradeoff directly.