Cost of Dog Ownership Per Year: Jacksonville Was $182 Higher
On June 18, the cost of dog ownership per year for recurring store-bought supplies ranged from about $882 in West San Antonio to $1,063 in Westside Jacksonville; dry dog food explained most of the gap.
Cost of dog ownership per year for recurring store-bought supplies was $1,063.47 in Westside Jacksonville, Florida on June 18. In West San Antonio, Texas, the same mid-sized-dog basket cost $881.81.
That roughly $182 difference matters for dog expenses because it was not spread evenly across the basket. Dry dog food explained $150.42 of the Jacksonville-San Antonio gap, or about 83%.
The comparison covers recurring retail goods: dry food, wet food, treats, waste bags, training pads, and shampoo. Vet care, grooming, boarding, prescriptions, and starter gear sit outside this cost of dog ownership comparison.
San Antonio kept the annual dog cost below the pack
Jacksonville, East St. Louis, and North Jackson were close together at the high end. San Antonio was the low outlier, more than $47 below San Jose, the next-lowest market.
| Rank | Market | Postal code | Cost per year | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville, FL - Westside | 32210 | $1,063.47 | 185 |
| 2 | East St. Louis, IL | 62201 | $1,058.80 | 190 |
| 3 | Jackson, MS - North Jackson | 39206 | $1,044.05 | 184 |
| 4 | Clayton, MO | 63105 | $1,030.42 | 192 |
| 5 | Houston, TX - Midtown | 77004 | $980.75 | 184 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA - Mid-City | 90019 | $980.18 | 189 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL - North Center/Avondale | 60618 | $973.77 | 177 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA - South Philadelphia | 19145 | $965.37 | 189 |
| 9 | New York, NY - Ridgewood/Glendale | 11385 | $964.46 | 185 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA - Rainier Valley | 98118 | $945.73 | 183 |
| 11 | San Jose, CA - Blossom Valley | 95123 | $929.07 | 190 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX - West San Antonio | 78228 | $881.81 | 179 |
The June 18 annual dog cost basket drew on 2,227 retail listings. Jacksonville ranked first, but the sharper point is that San Antonio separated from the rest of the list.
Dry dog food carried most of the dog expenses gap
The Jacksonville-San Antonio difference came from food, not from shampoo, bags, or training pads.
| Component | San Antonio contribution | Jacksonville contribution | Difference | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry dog food | $494.34 | $644.76 | $150.42 | 64 |
| Dog treats | $164.71 | $191.40 | $26.69 | 53 |
| Wet dog food | $156.46 | $159.51 | $3.06 | 60 |
| Dog training pads | $23.82 | $25.32 | $1.50 | 64 |
| Dog shampoo | $26.50 | $26.53 | $0.03 | 61 |
| Dog waste bags | $15.99 | $15.95 | -$0.04 | 62 |
Dry dog food by itself accounted for most of the gap. Dog treats added another $26.69, while wet dog food added only $3.06.
That is why the gap matters for shoppers comparing recurring dog ownership costs. A cheaper waste-bag shelf will not offset a large dry-food difference when dry food is the largest part of the annual basket.
Watch the dog cost per year line next
The next update should show whether San Antonio’s low annual dog cost moves back toward the pack or whether Jacksonville keeps its dry-food premium.
The latest city lines are on the Cost of Dog Ownership Per Year history. For the largest parts of the basket, check dry dog food, dog treats, and wet dog food.