How Much Does a Maltese Cost? (2026 Full Cost Breakdown)

The Maltese is a toy breed, so its size-driven costs are the lowest of any dog here. Food comes to just US$46–92 a year, since even a premium diet lasts a long time for a dog this small. Routine vet care runs US$264–396 for the annual exam, core vaccines and parasite prevention.

Grooming is by far the biggest recurring cost. The silky white coat grows continuously and mats without frequent care, so a professional groom every four to six weeks is standard, putting grooming at US$600–900 a year. That single line is more than the food and vet care combined, and home grooming is the main way to reduce it for owners willing to keep up a brushing routine. Many owners choose a short puppy cut to bring the grooming down, trading the flowing show coat for far less daily brushing, and either way the white coat shows tear-staining and dirt easily, so face-washing is part of the routine.

Insurance carries the breed's medium risk tier. Maltese are prone to patellar luxation, patent ductus arteriosus (a heart defect), liver shunts and the dental disease common to toy dogs with small, crowded mouths. Adult premiums land near US$506–944 a year, up from US$405–755 as a puppy and rising to US$1,281–2,023 in the senior years, among the lower premiums thanks to the tiny size.

Two one-off procedures stay outside the annual and lifetime totals: a patellar luxation repair at US$1,000–5,000 and heart-condition treatment at US$1,100–5,000. First-year setup for desexing, microchip and starter supplies adds US$420–1,675.