"It Costs More Than Raising a Child"... 250,000 Won a Month for Dog Daycare, Wallets Under Pressure [Jumeoni Talk]

Three Out of Ten Koreans Are Pet Owners
Services Range from Education and Care to Funerals
The Financial Burden of Pet Care Rises Every Year

Editor's NoteWe are living in a time when a single serving of pork belly costs 20,000 won and a bowl of Jajangmyeon is 7,500 won. The consumer price index in 2024 reached 114.18 (2020=100), and in 2025, the lingering effects of high inflation have further increased the burden on consumers. Through the "Jumeoni Talk" (Week+Money+Talk) series, we aim to share stories about consumption closely tied to our wallets, alongside ever-changing prices.

As the number of 'petfam' who treat their pets like family members increases, the burden of pet care expenses is also growing. Pixabay

Park Ina (32), an office worker raising a three-year-old poodle named Sogeumi, has been grooming her dog herself for several months. She said, "I used to take my dog to a professional groomer every time, but the costs turned out to be higher than expected, so now I do it at home," adding, "When you raise a pet, you spend more money than you think, starting from basic food expenses to vaccinations and veterinary bills."

As the number of 'petfam' (Pet+Family) who treat their pets like family members increases, related spending is also rising rapidly. In the past, most purchases were limited to basic items such as food, toys, and hygiene products. Recently, however, the scope of consumption has expanded to include services covering the entire life cycle of pets, such as training, care, and funerals.

Average Monthly Pet Care Expenses: 190,000 Won

According to the "2025 Korea Pet Report" published by KB Financial Group Management Research Institute, as of the end of last year, there were 5.92 million households raising pets, an increase of 1.1% (60,000 households) compared to 2023. Among them, 4.55 million households were raising dogs, and 1.37 million households were raising cats. The total pet-owning population in Korea was 15.46 million, accounting for 29.9% of the total population.

With the increase in the pet-owning population, pet care expenses have also been rising annually. The average monthly cost of raising a pet increased steadily from 140,000 won in 2021, to 154,000 won in 2023, and to 194,000 won in 2025. By type, households with dogs spent 161,000 won per month, while those with cats spent 142,000 won, meaning dog owners faced a greater financial burden. This is attributed to additional expenses for walks, grooming, and training, which are more common for dogs.

In particular, spending has increased further recently as pet owners go beyond purchasing food and basic supplies to use additional services such as grooming and health care. In terms of detailed spending, food expenses?including feed (35.1%) and snacks and health supplements (22.5%)?accounted for more than half (57.6%) of the total. This was followed by daily necessities such as pads and litter (10.6%), and grooming expenses (8.7%).

Rising Demand for Dog Daycare as Single-Person Households Increase

Under the Hangang Bridge in Seoul, a dog is sticking out its tongue. Photo by Asia Economy DB

As demand for pet care services grows, especially among dual-income and single-person households, the cost of "dog daycare" is also on the rise. These facilities take care of and train dogs on behalf of their owners, providing a safe place for pets when owners are at work or away for extended periods. However, the high usage fees are a significant burden for many pet owners.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency, last year, dog owners spent an average of 254,800 won per month per dog on daycare. This is higher than the average monthly cost of early childhood education in Seoul (226,491 won). The larger the dog, the greater the financial burden. For small dogs (under 10kg), the average was 251,600 won, while for medium-sized dogs (10kg to under 25kg), it was 256,700 won, and for large dogs (25kg or more), it was 347,800 won.

Gu, a self-employed person in their 30s raising a five-year-old small dog, said, "It's cheaper to buy a 10-session pass than to pay daily, so that's how I use the service," but added, "Paying a large sum at once is still a financial burden." Gu continued, "The dog daycare near my home charges about 350,000 won for 10 sessions. I use the service when I have to be away for long hours due to work or when it's too hot to walk my dog. The daycare offers various activities, so I think my dog experiences less stress."

Average Pet Funeral Costs: 460,000 Won

A citizen is taking a walk with a pet dog at Ichon Hangang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Asia Economy

Following care services, the use of pet funeral services is also rapidly increasing. This year, the average funeral cost for pets in pet-owning households was 463,000 won, up 83,000 won from 380,000 won in 2023. The increase in spending can be attributed to changes in funeral practices. The proportion of people choosing "direct burial" dropped by 27.1 percentage points, from 58.7% in 2023 to 31.6% this year. In contrast, the number of people opting for paid funeral services increased, with the proportion using tree burials after cremation rising from 12.9% to 21.3% during the same period.

With the growing demand for funeral services, the number of related businesses has also increased. According to the National Animal Protection Information System, there are 83 animal funeral service providers in Korea, up about 12% from 74 the previous year. Funeral practices have also diversified to include memorial stones (processing ashes into stone form) and tree burials, reflecting the growing culture of remembering pets as family members.