Lead: Most new owners only budget for food. In reality, vaccinations, desexing, preventatives and insurance are the bigger line items. Here are the 2026 Brisbane numbers, first year vs every year.
First-year one-off costs
| Item | Dog | Cat |
| Adoption / purchase | $300–$550 | $250–$450 |
| Desexing | $400–$700 | $300–$500 |
| Vaccinations (3 shots first year) | $300–$400 | $200–$300 |
| Microchip | $60–$80 | $60–$80 |
| Crate/bed, bowls, toys | $200–$400 | $150–$300 |
| Litter tray and litter (cats) | — | $150–$250 |
First-year one-off total: about $1,300–$2,100 for a dog, $1,100–$1,900 for a cat.
Annual recurring costs
| Item | Medium dog | Cat |
| Food | $80–$120/mo | $40–$60/mo |
| Heartworm + flea + tick | $40–$60/mo | $20–$35/mo |
| Annual booster | $100–$150 | $80–$120 |
| Annual check-up | $80–$120 | $80–$120 |
| Pet insurance (optional) | $50–$90/mo | $35–$60/mo |
Annual total (without insurance): about $2,000–$2,800 for a dog, $1,200–$1,700 for a cat.
The hidden cost: Emergency care. One surgery runs $2,000–$8,000. That is why we recommend insuring before age 3.