The average Canadian household spent $752 on pet expenses in 2023

EconomicsFinance
Written By FWD EDITORS

Released: Friday, February 20, 2026

There are an estimated 8.5 million cats and 7.9 million dogs living in Canadian households. These are just a portion of the pets that Canadians share their homes with. Caring for pets can be costly, and expenses vary widely across the country. In 2023, the average Canadian household spent $752 on pet expenses, which includes food and the cost of pet care (veterinary visits). Among provinces, average household pet expenses were highest in Nova Scotia at $996 and lowest in Quebec at $532. There were some notable regional differences. Those living in Canada’s Atlantic provinces tend to spend more on their pets compared to those living in Western Canada.

Data for this week’s chart comes from Statistics Canada’s Table 11-10-0222-01  Household spending, Canada, regions and provinces.

 

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FWD EDITORS

We’re a team of data enthusiasts and storytellers. Our goal is to share stories we find interesting in hopes of inspiring others to incorporate data and data visualizations in the stories they create.

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Canada’s EV charging station network is growing