The Real Cost of Owning a Rescue Dog in Bali: Our Experience with Ned 🐶

Meet Ned — our sandy-pawed rescue pup from the beaches of Bali. 🐶 When we landed on the Island of the Gods, we hadn’t planned on expanding our family, but Ned had other ideas. One wag of his tail and we were hooked. But what’s it really like — financially — to have a rescue dog in paradise?

First things first: adopting a Bali dog is often free or comes with a small donation to local rescues. But the real costs start after that heart-melting adoption moment.

Vet care is affordable on the island, but still adds up. In Ned’s first year, we spent around USD $200 on vaccinations, deworming, and neutering. Emergency visits? Budget at least $100 just in case.

Next up: daily care. A quality bag of dog food (especially imported brands) can cost $30–$50 monthly. Add in flea, tick, and heartworm meds — essential in Bali’s tropical climate — and that’s another $10–$15 per month.

Also worth noting: boarding and grooming. If you plan to travel, expect to pay $10–$20/day for a good pet-sitter. Grooming ranges from $10–$25 per session depending on the size and coat of your pup.

All in, we spend roughly $75–$120/month on Ned — not including the occasional new toy or treat (because really, how can you say no?).

Living in Bali with a dog like Ned has been full of joy, beach walks, and yes, some unexpected vet visits. But the love and loyalty of a rescue pup? Totally worth it. 🐾

Curious about the full breakdown? Watch our Cost of Living in Bali 2025 video on YouTube, where we open up on all things Bali life — dog treats included!

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