Lowest Monthly Dog Cost Cities
Cities with the lowest modeled recurring dog-cost burden across rent surcharges, supplies, and care pricing.
These rankings are directional browse layers built from the move and lease-risk framework. Use them to find candidates, then move into the city risk check, state context, and compare tool before treating any top result as a real move recommendation.
Why this leader can still be weak:
This list optimizes recurring cost burden, not total move quality. A cheap leader can still be only mid-tier overall once climate load, housing friction, and care resilience are added back in.
Start with East St. Louis, IL, then clear the state rule layer and compare the same scenario against another city before you commit.
The current #1 city carries a B+ grade, which means this list is better read as a candidate-discovery layer than a strong recommendation surface.
| Rank | City | Move-Fit Grade | Monthly Cost | Vet Access | Climate (Days) | Safety Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | East St. Louis, IL | B+ | $162 | 2.16 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #2 | Kennett, MO | A- | $162 | 2.1 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #3 | Alpena, MI | A+ | $162 | 3.92 / 10k | 206 | Elevated |
| #4 | Roma, TX | C+ | $163 | 1.9 / 10k | 221 | Elevated |
| #5 | Escanaba, MI | A | $164 | 1.87 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #6 | Crowley, LA | C | $164 | 1.85 / 10k | 268 | Elevated |
| #7 | Effingham, IL | A+ | $165 | 4.95 / 10k | 227 | Elevated |
| #8 | Smithfield, NC | A | $165 | 3.36 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #9 | Wabash, IN | A- | $165 | 2.65 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #10 | Kendallville, IN | A- | $165 | 3.09 / 10k | 213 | Elevated |
| #11 | Youngstown, OH | B- | $166 | 1.53 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #12 | Galesburg, IL | A- | $166 | 2.37 / 10k | 206 | Elevated |
| #13 | Jacksonville, IL | B | $166 | 1.55 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #14 | Corinth, MS | B | $166 | 1.98 / 10k | 247 | Elevated |
| #15 | Greenville, OH | B+ | $166 | 2.36 / 10k | 222 | Elevated |
| #16 | Vermillion, SD | A | $166 | 2.5 / 10k | 180 | Elevated |
| #17 | Mexico, MO | A- | $166 | 2.1 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #18 | Coshocton, OH | B | $166 | 1.46 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #19 | Magnolia, AR | B | $166 | 1.6 / 10k | 247 | Elevated |
| #20 | Raceland, LA | C | $166 | 2.29 / 10k | 270 | Elevated |
| #21 | Fairmont, MN | A | $166 | 3.23 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #22 | Carroll, IA | A- | $166 | 3.97 / 10k | 212 | Elevated |
| #23 | Bay City, MI | A | $167 | 2.78 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #24 | Clinton, IA | B+ | $167 | 3.2 / 10k | 204 | Elevated |
| #25 | Carbondale, IL | A- | $167 | 2.76 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #26 | Alamo, TX | C- | $167 | 1.01 / 10k | 221 | Elevated |
| #27 | Lenoir, NC | A- | $167 | 0.94 / 10k | 256 | Elevated |
| #28 | Jasper, IN | B+ | $167 | 2.6 / 10k | 231 | Elevated |
| #29 | Hibbing, MN | B+ | $167 | 3.03 / 10k | 157 | Elevated |
| #30 | Jamestown, ND | A- | $167 | 3.7 / 10k | 172 | Elevated |
| #31 | Mitchell, SD | A | $167 | 2.5 / 10k | 184 | Elevated |
| #32 | Macomb, IL | A | $167 | 3.57 / 10k | 216 | Elevated |
| #33 | Fort Payne, AL | B- | $167 | 1.77 / 10k | 250 | Elevated |
| #34 | Great Bend, KS | A+ | $167 | 5.93 / 10k | 211 | Elevated |
| #35 | Marshall, MN | A+ | $167 | 4.91 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #36 | Moberly, MO | A | $167 | 2.1 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #37 | Neosho, MO | B+ | $167 | 2.22 / 10k | 231 | Elevated |
| #38 | Eufaula, AL | B | $167 | 1.16 / 10k | 251 | Elevated |
| #39 | Beatrice, NE | B | $167 | 1.33 / 10k | 201 | Elevated |
| #40 | Bucyrus, OH | A- | $167 | 2.97 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #41 | Campbellsville, KY | A | $167 | 3.16 / 10k | 252 | Elevated |
| #42 | Two Rivers, WI | A- | $167 | 3.53 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #43 | Taylorville, IL | A+ | $167 | 4.85 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #44 | Boaz, AL | B+ | $167 | 2.97 / 10k | 261 | Elevated |
| #45 | Atchison, KS | A+ | $167 | 6 / 10k | 211 | Low |
| #46 | Van Wert, OH | B+ | $167 | 2.1 / 10k | 225 | Elevated |
| #47 | Galion, OH | A- | $167 | 2.97 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #48 | Cambridge, OH | B+ | $167 | 2.1 / 10k | 223 | Elevated |
| #49 | Mansfield, OH | B | $168 | 1.97 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #50 | Jefferson City, MO | A | $168 | 3.06 / 10k | 222 | Elevated |
| #51 | Warren, OH | B+ | $168 | 3.36 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #52 | Austintown, OH | B- | $168 | 1.53 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #53 | Aberdeen, SD | A | $168 | 3.83 / 10k | 168 | Elevated |
| #54 | Marion, IN | B+ | $168 | 2.14 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #55 | Granite City, IL | A | $168 | 4.13 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #56 | Fort Dodge, IA | B | $168 | 1.62 / 10k | 212 | Elevated |
| #57 | Freeport, IL | A- | $168 | 3.55 / 10k | 205 | Elevated |
| #58 | Steubenville, OH | B- | $168 | 0.99 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #59 | Portsmouth, OH | A- | $168 | 3.38 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #60 | Logansport, IN | B+ | $168 | 2.47 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #61 | Mercedes, TX | C | $168 | 1.01 / 10k | 243 | Elevated |
| #62 | Mattoon, IL | A- | $168 | 3.02 / 10k | 227 | Elevated |
| #63 | Poplar Bluff, MO | A- | $168 | 2.89 / 10k | 238 | Elevated |
| #64 | Palmview, TX | C- | $168 | 1.01 / 10k | 221 | Elevated |
| #65 | Greeneville, TN | A- | $168 | 2.81 / 10k | 239 | Elevated |
| #66 | Yankton, SD | B+ | $168 | 2 / 10k | 180 | Elevated |
| #67 | Alexander City, AL | B+ | $168 | 2.1 / 10k | 258 | Elevated |
| #68 | Sterling, IL | B | $168 | 1.56 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #69 | Washington Court House, OH | B+ | $168 | 2.1 / 10k | 231 | Elevated |
| #70 | Marshall, MO | A- | $168 | 2.78 / 10k | 213 | Elevated |
| #71 | East Cleveland, OH | B | $168 | 2.44 / 10k | 248 | Elevated |
| #72 | Connersville, IN | B+ | $168 | 2 / 10k | 226 | Elevated |
| #73 | Fostoria, OH | B | $168 | 1.94 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #74 | Conneaut, OH | B | $168 | 1.84 / 10k | 226 | Elevated |
| #75 | West Plains, MO | A | $168 | 4.62 / 10k | 234 | Elevated |
| #76 | Kewanee, IL | A | $168 | 4.7 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #77 | Streator, IL | A- | $168 | 3.33 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #78 | Centralia, IL | B- | $168 | 1.12 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #79 | Arkansas City, KS | A- | $168 | 3.65 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #80 | Salem, OH | A- | $168 | 3.17 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #81 | Winfield, KS | A- | $168 | 3.65 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #82 | Marinette, WI | B | $168 | 2.18 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #83 | Peru, IN | B+ | $168 | 1.92 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #84 | Tarboro, NC | A | $168 | 2 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #85 | Mount Airy, NC | A | $168 | 2.77 / 10k | 258 | Elevated |
| #86 | Ironton, OH | B | $168 | 2.34 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #87 | Maryville, MO | A | $168 | 4.52 / 10k | 198 | Elevated |
| #88 | Highland, IL | A- | $168 | 4.13 / 10k | 226 | Elevated |
| #89 | Decatur, IL | A- | $169 | 2.58 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #90 | Springfield, OH | A- | $169 | 2.89 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #91 | Manitowoc, WI | A- | $169 | 3.53 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #92 | Pekin, IL | A | $169 | 4.5 / 10k | 214 | Elevated |
| #93 | Danville, IL | B | $169 | 1.8 / 10k | 202 | Elevated |
| #94 | Barberton, OH | A | $169 | 5.06 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #95 | Zanesville, OH | B- | $169 | 1.83 / 10k | 223 | Elevated |
| #96 | Emporia, KS | B+ | $169 | 2.62 / 10k | 213 | Elevated |
| #97 | Alliance, OH | B | $169 | 2.89 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #98 | Rolla, MO | A- | $169 | 1.88 / 10k | 228 | Elevated |
| #99 | Cumberland, MD | A | $169 | 2.02 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #100 | Marshfield, WI | B- | $169 | 2.25 / 10k | 192 | Elevated |