How Much Do Pugs Cost? (Initial Price & Yearly Costs)

It’s about that time again, 3 years after my pug passed away (whom this site was created for), it’s time for me to get a new pug puppy 🥰.  

I’ll be updating my posts on this website as I raise my new pup, starting with my guide on How Much Do Pugs Cost?

Thinking about adopting or buying a pug and you want to know about how much a pug costs?

It’s a big decision, getting a pug is almost like having a kid.

Pugs have become increasingly popular over the past few years, which has lead to a price surge. Back when I bought Benji in 2010 (aka the Notorious PUG) from a reputable breeder, the going rate was about $500.

Now the average price for a pug is about $1000-$2000 for a puppy, and usually under $500 to rescue a pug. They’ll cost about $2000 in the first year, and about $1500 a year after that. This includes various things like dog food, toys, treats, vet bills (or pet insurance), grooming and more. 

Should you get a pug puppy on Craigslist or Facebook Groups?

The first avenue, which tends to be your cheapest, is your local Craigslist or Facebook Groups – but these are also the most risky!

• Many owners want deposits to reserve a pup – which also happens to be a common scam.
• These pups are often inbred, which is terrible for their health.
• They could be selling them as 100% pug, but without papers it could be a mix. It isn’t uncommon to be mixed with other flat faced dogs eg. Frenchies and Boston Terriers.

There’s soooo many things you need to be aware of when you’re looking into getting a new pup, here are my tips on how to find a reputable pug breeder, additionally here are 17 things you need to know about owning a pug.

Based on my search, and it will of course vary based upon location, pug puppies from Facebook Groups or Craigslist should range about $800-$1500, perhaps more if they have papers, rare colors, etc. 

Should you get a pug puppy from a pet store?

Pet stores are notorious for acquiring puppies from backyard breeders, now there are some reputable pet stores who source from reputable breeders, but if you could cut out the middleman – why wouldn’t you?

The thing is, reputable breeders are a dime a dozen, which means they’re in high demand, thus they don’t need a store to broker their deals.

One positive is that pet stores usually have some sort of health guarantee – however, you’ll pay the price for it upfront.

Pug puppies from pet stores in my city start at $2800+. 

You could also try a Google query for “pug breeder your city“, most pug breeders don’t have and don’t need a website because let’s face it… the demand for pug puppies is quite high!

The initial price is not the only cost associated with owning a pug, however. They require special care and attention and have some unique health needs. Pugs are prone to heat stroke, so it is important to keep them cool in the summer months. They also require regular grooming and veterinary care. When considering whether or not to add a pug to your family, be sure to factor in all of the associated costs.

The average lifespan of a pug is 12-15 years, so it’ll likely be a big investment. This isn’t to deter you from getting a pug, because Benji was one of the best things that ever happened to me. But we know pugs have a ton of health issues, and that means $1000+ vet bills are inevitable. Are you ready for that?

Now of course, this depends on a lot of factors, and my personal analysis as a pug owner, I think you can slice 20-40% from those statistics if you’re savvy (and I’ll detail that below).

We’ll also discuss where to buy a pug, or if you should adopt, below. But first, let’s talk about one of the most important issues for pugs…

Pug Health – Vet Bills and Thoughts About Pet Insurance…

Because the biggest expenses over your pugs lifetime will likely be health related, let’s talk about pet insurance.

Personally, I did not opt for insurance. I thought about it later in his life when health issues were starting to arise, but again, I passed.

My thought process was if insurance is about $20 a month… that’s $240 a year or $3600 a year. You could go even deeper, say you invested that same $20 a month into S&P 500, which has a historical return rate of about 10%. After 15 years you’ll have $7,625.40.

Of course people always talk about investing in hindsight – so take that for what it’s worth.

When I do eventually get a pug again, I’ll likely lean towards getting pet insurance because of the peace of mind. Because when you don’t have insurance, you always have to think about how much the vet bill is going to be? It would be nice to be able to take a your pug in, even with a small concern, and not have to worry about a $2000 vet bill.

The Cost of a Pug

Pugs are always popular, but their initial price tag might not be as high as you think. Pugs can usually cost anywhere from $1000 to $2,000. You might be able to find a cheaper Pug puppy at a pet store, but be aware that these puppies are usually acquired from backyard breeders, and as such, tend to have health issues. They might not have the same health guarantees as a Pug from a reputable breeder. The cost of a Pug also depends on their color and whether they have a pedigree. Black Pugs and Fawn Pugs are the most common, and thus, the cheapest. If you want a more rare color, like Silver or Apricot, you can expect to pay more. In addition, Pugs with pedigrees and closest to the AKC breed standard will also be more expensive.

Buying a Pug from a Reputable Breeder

Start with my tips on How to Find a Reputable Pug Breeder.

Yes, a reputable pug breeder will be more expensive, initially. They’ll likely be around the higher end of the $1000-$2000 price range… sometimes even higher if they have a championship pedigree.

However, reputable pug breeders produce healthier pugs – which could reduce the lifetime cost of owning a pug.

To each their own, but personally, I wouldn’t gamble on a pug from a pet store. Nor would I buy an inbred pug from a backyard breeder.

If you want to save money, find a local breeder on Facebook groups (like a local pug group if available), and discreetly ask about the mom and pop of the litter and just make sure they’re not inbred.

Another way to save money is to rescue a pug…

Adopting a Pug from a Rescue or Shelter

When it comes to initial price, adopting a pug from a rescue or shelter is cheaper than purchasing one from a breeder. It depends on the shelter, but prices for adopting a pug from a rescue or shelter range from $75 to $250.

Compare this to the average price for purchasing a pug from a breeder is $1,000-$2,000.

But again this is just the initial cost, in addition to the initial price, there are also ongoing costs associated with owning a pug. These costs include food, supplies, vet bills, training, etc. Pugs are also notoriously high-maintenance when it comes to health and grooming. Even rescued from a shelter, pugs can be expensive to own, but they are also one of the most adorable and loving dog breeds.

Other costs of owning a pug

Start with our list Pug Puppy Supplies: 27 Essentials for your new Pug puppy, and then our list of 15 Things Every Pug Owner Should Buy.

Between both lists, I cover anything and everything that I’ve used and which ones I consider must haves for a pug owner.

Other things to consider are keeping your pug updated with his shots. To save money, Google, “low cost vet clinics near me” to find cheaper options in your area.

Lastly, we can’t consider a pugs favorite thing – food! Here’s some of my favorite dog food for pugs, and treats for a pug.