Dog breeds / Small breeds

What a Boston Terrier really costs

The Boston Terrier is cheap to feed and needs no groomer, but its prominent eyes and short face generate steady vet bills. Eye problems are the breed's signature expense, from $200 ulcer treatments to $1,500-$5,000 cataract surgery per eye.

Size: Small, 12–25 lb
Life expectancy: 11–13 years
Grooming: Low
Insurance risk: Above average
Puppy price: $1,000–$3,500
Food a day: About 590 calories

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Boston Terrier with mainstream food, home grooming, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $520 less than the median breed.

Illness and injury (average)$690
Dental cleanings$425
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$404
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Food$304
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$180
Treats and chews$61
Grooming$53
License$20
Typical year$2,470

Most years land between $2,000 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $3,420 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 8 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.

The first year

Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.

Bringing a puppy home

Breeder price$2,250
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$400
Spay or neuter$490
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$3,340

Running costs in year one

Food$304
Treats and chews$61
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$404
Grooming$53
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$690
Year-one running costs$2,270

First-year total: $5,610. Adopting instead brings it to about $2,790.

Health costs to plan for

MoneyGeek's 2026 table puts a middle-aged Boston at $50 a month, above other small breeds such as the Shih Tzu ($37) and Jack Russell ($38), reflecting eye, knee and airway claims.

Condition	How it affects Boston Terriers	Typical treatment	Cost
Cataracts (including juvenile hereditary cataracts)	The Boston Terrier Club of America asks breeders to DNA-test for early-onset hereditary juvenile cataracts (HSF4), and Embrace lists Bostons among breeds with hereditary cataracts. Source	Cataract surgery with lens implant, per eye	$1,500–$5,000
Patellar luxation	Patellar luxation is part of the breed's CHIC screening panel; Trupanion's Boston puppy claims for it averaged $1,300-$2,300. Source	Surgical correction, per knee	$1,500–$3,000
Brachycephalic airway syndrome	Embrace lists the Boston among brachycephalic breeds affected; PetMD notes surgery may be needed to ease breathing. Source	Soft palate resection ($500-$1,500) plus nostril widening ($200-$1,000)	$700–$2,500
Corneal ulcers and other eye injuries	AKC says Boston eyes are prominent and easily hurt; Trupanion's adult Boston corneal ulcer claims averaged $100-$300, with severe cases needing surgery. Source	Medication, eye protection and, for deep ulcers, surgery	$200–$2,500

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $690 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.

What drives the cost of a Boston Terrier

Food and grooming are among the lowest of any breed: a 12-25 lb dog with a coat that needs only weekly brushing.
Keep saline eye drops and an eye-safe play area in mind; AKC advises daily eye checks because injuries are common in the breed.
Breeding Bostons costs more than most small dogs: in Evans and Adams' UK survey, 92% of Boston litters were born by C-section.
Ask for parents' OFA eye, patella and BAER hearing results plus the HSF4 cataract DNA test that the breed club recommends.
Moderate exercise needs mean doggy daycare is optional, but plan indoor play on hot days since flat-faced dogs overheat quickly.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $1,000–$3,500
Rescue or shelter: $100–$650
Lifetime, from a breeder: $33,000
Lifetime, adopted: $30,200

Embrace puts reputable-breeder Bostons at $1,000-$3,500 and PetMD at about $1,000. No Boston-specific rescue fee page could be opened, so adoption reflects Embrace's general shelter range (seniors $50-$150, puppies $350-$650).

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Pug$2,410 a year
Japanese Chin$2,440 a year
Pekingese$2,510 a year
Brussels Griffon$2,510 a year
Shetland Sheepdog$2,540 a year
Pomsky$2,550 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Boston Terrier puppy cost?

A Boston Terrier puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $1,000–$3,500. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $100–$650.

How much does a Boston Terrier cost per year?

After the first year, a Boston Terrier costs about $2,470 a year, or $206 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $2,000 to $3,420.

How much does a Boston Terrier cost over its lifetime?

About $33,000 over a 12-year life when bought from a breeder, or $30,200 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.