Most Expensive Cities for Dogs
The highest "hidden pet tax" areas where high costs of living severely impact pet ownership.
These rankings are directional comparison lists built from the Paw Score model. Start with the leader, but verify the full city page and methodology before treating any top result as a universal recommendation.
Start with Melville, NY, then compare it against its state page or the full city report.
| Rank | City | Paw Grade | Monthly Cost | Vet Access | Climate (Days) | Safety Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Melville, NY | F | $291 | 3.36 / 10k | 251 | Elevated |
| #2 | Scarsdale, NY | F | $291 | 3.14 / 10k | 238 | Elevated |
| #3 | Garden City, NY | F | $290 | 2.79 / 10k | 273 | Elevated |
| #4 | Cupertino, CA | D | $286 | 2.25 / 10k | 351 | Elevated |
| #5 | Danville, CA | D | $286 | 3.45 / 10k | 321 | Elevated |
| #6 | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | F | $286 | 2.23 / 10k | 345 | Elevated |
| #7 | Foster City, CA | D+ | $286 | 3.82 / 10k | 359 | Elevated |
| #8 | Los Altos, CA | D- | $286 | 2.25 / 10k | 351 | Elevated |
| #9 | Saratoga, CA | D- | $286 | 2.25 / 10k | 344 | Elevated |
| #10 | Coto de Caza, CA | D | $286 | 3.56 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #11 | Alamo, CA | D | $286 | 3.45 / 10k | 325 | Elevated |
| #12 | Paradise Valley, AZ | F | $286 | 3.39 / 10k | 243 | Elevated |
| #13 | San Marino, CA | F | $286 | 2.23 / 10k | 328 | Elevated |
| #14 | Rossmoor, CA | D | $286 | 3.56 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #15 | Hillsborough, CA | D+ | $286 | 3.82 / 10k | 359 | Elevated |
| #16 | Piedmont, CA | D- | $286 | 2.52 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #17 | Clayton, CA | D | $286 | 3.45 / 10k | 325 | Elevated |
| #18 | Malibu, CA | F | $286 | 2.23 / 10k | 347 | Elevated |
| #19 | Blackhawk, CA | D | $286 | 3.45 / 10k | 321 | Elevated |
| #20 | Manhattan Beach, CA | F | $285 | 2.23 / 10k | 344 | Elevated |
| #21 | Franklin Lakes, NJ | D- | $285 | 2.88 / 10k | 229 | Elevated |
| #22 | Fort Salonga, NY | F | $285 | 3.36 / 10k | 242 | Elevated |
| #23 | Corte Madera, CA | C- | $284 | 4.87 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #24 | Pompton Plains, NJ | D+ | $283 | 4.56 / 10k | 229 | Elevated |
| #25 | Millbrae, CA | C- | $282 | 3.82 / 10k | 359 | Elevated |
| #26 | Short Hills, NJ | F | $282 | 1.04 / 10k | 249 | Elevated |
| #27 | Kaneohe Base, HI | F | $282 | 2.4 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #28 | West Hempstead, NY | F | $281 | 2.79 / 10k | 273 | Elevated |
| #29 | Ladera Ranch, CA | D+ | $280 | 3.56 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #30 | Ocean Pointe, HI | F | $280 | 2.4 / 10k | 275 | Elevated |
| #31 | Palos Verdes Estates, CA | F | $280 | 2.23 / 10k | 345 | Elevated |
| #32 | Rancho Mission Viejo, CA | D+ | $280 | 3.56 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #33 | Waldwick, NJ | D | $280 | 2.88 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #34 | Palo Alto, CA | D | $279 | 2.25 / 10k | 351 | Elevated |
| #35 | Mill Valley, CA | C- | $279 | 4.87 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #36 | Tenafly, NJ | D | $278 | 2.88 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #37 | Blackwells Mills, NJ | D- | $278 | 2.63 / 10k | 216 | Elevated |
| #38 | East Honolulu, HI | F | $277 | 2.4 / 10k | 275 | Elevated |
| #39 | Coronado, CA | D | $277 | 3.45 / 10k | 343 | Elevated |
| #40 | Mountain House, CA | D- | $276 | 1.68 / 10k | 321 | Elevated |
| #41 | Jericho, NY | F | $276 | 2.79 / 10k | 273 | Elevated |
| #42 | Syosset, NY | F | $275 | 2.79 / 10k | 251 | Elevated |
| #43 | Schofield Barracks, HI | F | $275 | 2.4 / 10k | 275 | Elevated |
| #44 | Nesconset, NY | F | $275 | 3.36 / 10k | 242 | Elevated |
| #45 | Dublin, CA | D | $274 | 2.52 / 10k | 321 | Elevated |
| #46 | Plainview, NY | F | $274 | 2.79 / 10k | 251 | Elevated |
| #47 | Mount Sinai, NY | F | $274 | 3.36 / 10k | 242 | Elevated |
| #48 | Newport Beach, CA | D+ | $273 | 3.56 / 10k | 334 | Elevated |
| #49 | Hicksville, NY | F | $273 | 2.79 / 10k | 273 | Elevated |
| #50 | Menlo Park, CA | C- | $273 | 3.82 / 10k | 351 | Elevated |
| #51 | Oak Park, CA | D | $273 | 3.16 / 10k | 312 | Elevated |
| #52 | Florham Park, NJ | C- | $273 | 4.56 / 10k | 229 | Elevated |
| #53 | Milpitas, CA | D | $272 | 2.25 / 10k | 344 | Elevated |
| #54 | Walnut, CA | F | $272 | 2.23 / 10k | 322 | Elevated |
| #55 | Moraga, CA | D+ | $272 | 3.45 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #56 | The Pinery, CO | C- | $272 | 5.89 / 10k | 192 | Elevated |
| #57 | San Mateo, CA | C- | $271 | 3.82 / 10k | 359 | Elevated |
| #58 | Pacifica, CA | C- | $271 | 3.82 / 10k | 359 | Elevated |
| #59 | Agoura Hills, CA | F | $271 | 2.23 / 10k | 312 | Elevated |
| #60 | Snoqualmie, WA | D | $271 | 4.18 / 10k | 328 | Elevated |
| #61 | North Bellport, NY | F | $271 | 3.36 / 10k | 239 | Elevated |
| #62 | Sunnyvale, CA | D+ | $270 | 2.25 / 10k | 351 | Elevated |
| #63 | Eastvale, CA | F | $270 | 1.83 / 10k | 302 | Elevated |
| #64 | Kailua, HI | F | $270 | 2.4 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #65 | Calabasas, CA | F | $270 | 2.23 / 10k | 312 | Elevated |
| #66 | Pleasanton, CA | D | $269 | 2.52 / 10k | 321 | Elevated |
| #67 | French Valley, CA | F | $269 | 1.83 / 10k | 325 | Elevated |
| #68 | Massapequa Park, NY | F | $269 | 2.79 / 10k | 251 | Elevated |
| #69 | Solana Beach, CA | D+ | $269 | 3.45 / 10k | 348 | Elevated |
| #70 | North Merrick, NY | F | $269 | 2.79 / 10k | 273 | Elevated |
| #71 | Wellesley, MA | D | $268 | 3.39 / 10k | 202 | Elevated |
| #72 | Paramus, NJ | D+ | $268 | 2.88 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #73 | Hercules, CA | C- | $268 | 3.45 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #74 | Mill Creek East, WA | D+ | $268 | 3.92 / 10k | 337 | Elevated |
| #75 | Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | C | $268 | 4.87 / 10k | 362 | Elevated |
| #76 | Santa Clara, CA | D+ | $267 | 2.25 / 10k | 344 | Elevated |
| #77 | Redwood City, CA | C- | $267 | 3.82 / 10k | 359 | Elevated |
| #78 | Mountain View, CA | D+ | $267 | 2.25 / 10k | 351 | Elevated |
| #79 | Hoboken, NJ | D- | $267 | 0.86 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #80 | Lexington, MA | D | $267 | 3.25 / 10k | 205 | Elevated |
| #81 | Los Gatos, CA | D | $267 | 2.25 / 10k | 344 | Elevated |
| #82 | Southlake, TX | D | $267 | 3.55 / 10k | 255 | Elevated |
| #83 | Nocatee, FL | C | $267 | 3.83 / 10k | 275 | Elevated |
| #84 | Fort Hunt, VA | C | $267 | 4.16 / 10k | 251 | Low |
| #85 | Wolf Trap, VA | C | $267 | 4.16 / 10k | 228 | Low |
| #86 | Key Biscayne, FL | D | $267 | 2.28 / 10k | 233 | Elevated |
| #87 | Wakefield, VA | C | $267 | 4.16 / 10k | 251 | Low |
| #88 | Difficult Run, VA | C- | $267 | 4.16 / 10k | 228 | Low |
| #89 | Brookline, MA | D+ | $266 | 3.39 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #90 | Dix Hills, NY | F | $266 | 3.36 / 10k | 251 | Elevated |
| #91 | Camp Pendleton South, CA | D+ | $266 | 3.45 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #92 | El Sobrante, CA | F | $266 | 1.83 / 10k | 308 | Elevated |
| #93 | Del Aire, CA | F | $266 | 2.23 / 10k | 344 | Elevated |
| #94 | Fremont, CA | C- | $265 | 2.52 / 10k | 351 | Elevated |
| #95 | San Ramon, CA | C- | $265 | 3.45 / 10k | 321 | Elevated |
| #96 | Cerritos, CA | F | $265 | 2.23 / 10k | 322 | Elevated |
| #97 | Eastern Goleta Valley, CA | C- | $265 | 3.69 / 10k | 354 | Elevated |
| #98 | Great Falls, VA | C | $265 | 4.16 / 10k | 251 | Low |
| #99 | Irvine, CA | C- | $264 | 3.56 / 10k | 355 | Elevated |
| #100 | Cambridge, MA | C- | $264 | 3.25 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |