How much does it cost to have a pet in Italy in 2023?

A recent study by the insurance platform Facile.it uncovered pet parents’ yearly expenditure. Research institute EMG Different found that the average Italian household with 2 pets spends between €780–€1,200 ($820–$1,261) a year in pet care. 

The survey of 1,000 respondents took into account a range of expenses, including insurance, vet bills and accessories. Breaking down the average figure even further revealed that owning a dog costs around €600 ($630) and around €390 ($409) to own a cat.

Rising costs 

Almost 60% of dog and cat owners admitted that during the last year, they had experienced rising costs related to maintaining their pets. 

Food was the biggest culprit, and participants noted significant price increases; 9 out of 10 owners said food had increased the most. 

Vet bills came in second place as 51% of respondents found vet visits had gone up the most in price. According to the research, 29% of pet owners in Italy have taken out insurance for their pets, up from 20.4% last year.