How Much It Costs to Own a Cat or Dog in Tokyo (2026)

Owning a pet in Tokyo is very doable, but the real budget is bigger than the food bill, and part of it is hidden in your rent. Here is what a cat or a small dog actually costs in 2026, from setup to monthly running costs.

Quick answer: In 2026, budget a one-time setup of roughly ¥50,000 to ¥150,000 for a cat (more for a dog), then about ¥8,000 to ¥15,000 a month for a cat (¥12,000 to ¥25,000 for a small dog) covering food, litter and pet insurance, plus ¥15,000 to ¥30,000 a year in routine vet care. The biggest hidden cost is housing: a pet-friendly apartment usually means a larger deposit and sometimes higher rent.

One-time setup costs

Before the monthly bills start, budget for the basics:

• The animal itself. A shelter cat can be close to free (adoption fees around ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 cover vaccines and neutering); a pedigree cat or dog from a breeder or pet shop runs from ¥100,000 to well over ¥300,000.
• Starter supplies. Carrier, bed, litter box, bowls, scratching post or crate: roughly ¥20,000 to ¥40,000.
• First vet visit. Health check, vaccinations, microchip (now required for sold pets) and neutering: about ¥30,000 to ¥60,000 in total.

Monthly running costs

For a single cat, a realistic monthly budget is ¥8,000 to ¥15,000: food (¥3,000 to ¥8,000), litter (¥1,000 to ¥2,000), pet insurance (¥2,000 to ¥5,000), plus treats and toys. A small dog costs more, roughly ¥12,000 to ¥25,000 a month once you add grooming and walks.

The hidden cost: housing

This is where foreigners get surprised. A pet-friendly (ペット可) apartment in Tokyo usually costs more than a standard one: often one to two extra months of deposit, sometimes non-refundable, and occasionally higher rent. Pet-friendly stock is also scarce, so your search is narrower. Factor this into your move-in budget, which already runs around five months of rent up front (see our Tokyo move-in cost breakdown). For how to actually find and get approved for one, read our guide to renting a pet-friendly apartment in Tokyo.

Vet care and insurance

Routine care (an annual checkup plus vaccinations) runs about ¥15,000 to ¥30,000 a year for a cat, more for a dog. The real risk is an emergency: surgery or a serious illness can cost ¥100,000 to ¥500,000, and Japan has no public pet health system. This is why pet insurance (¥2,000 to ¥5,000 a month) is popular; it typically reimburses 50% to 70% of covered treatment. Decide early, because pre-existing conditions are excluded.

If you are bringing a pet from abroad

Importing a cat or dog into Japan is a cost and a timeline of its own: microchip, rabies vaccinations, blood tests and an advance-notice period that can take months, plus flight and paperwork. Plan well ahead. Our guide to bringing pets to Japan walks through the quarantine rules step by step.

The 2026 budget, at a glance

Owning a pet in Tokyo is affordable if you plan for the setup, the monthly costs and, above all, the housing premium. If you want help finding a genuinely pet-friendly home and budgeting the move, tell us what you need and we will find the right fit for you and your animal.

Figures are typical 2026 market ranges. See also: Renting a Pet-Friendly Apartment in Tokyo as a Foreigner, Bringing Pets to Japan: Import Guide, Cost of Living in Tokyo for Expats in 2026.