How Much Does Pet Relocation Cost?
There is no single answer to what pet relocation costs. The total depends on where your pet is going, how they are getting there, and what the destination requires. But the math is straightforward once you understand what drives it.
Every pet relocation has two cost categories: what you have to spend regardless of who helps you (required costs), and what you pay a relocation company if you hire one (service costs). Add them together and you have your total.
Required Costs: What You Pay No Matter What
Required costs are the fees and expenses your pet's move generates regardless of whether you handle it yourself or hire a company. These include government fees, vet work, travel, and any quarantine or permits the destination requires. They are non-negotiable. The only variable is whether you are coordinating them yourself or paying someone else to do it.
The gap between domestic and international required costs is significant. A straightforward domestic move by air for one small dog typically runs around $1,500 in required costs. The same dog moving from the United States to Singapore runs around $5,000 in required costs, more than three times as much, because international moves add veterinary documentation, USDA endorsements, import permits, airfreight, and potentially quarantine fees that domestic moves do not have.
A few things that affect required costs beyond the destination:
- Larger dogs cost more to transport than smaller dogs, as airfreight is based on crate size and weight
- Cats typically cost about the same as a small dog
- Each additional pet on the same move generally costs less than the first
- Ground transport can cost as much or more than air for long-distance domestic moves, depending on whether you choose shared or private transport
For a more detailed breakdown of required costs by pet type, see:
Service Costs: What You Pay for Help
If you handle your pet's move yourself, service costs are zero. PetRelocation charges a fixed service fee per pet if you hire us for Complete Support. That fee does not change based on how complicated the move gets or how many paperwork surprises come up along the way.
| Type of Move | Service Fee: First Pet | Service Fee: Additional Pet |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | $900 | $250 |
| International | $2,500 | $500 |
That fee covers a dedicated relocation coordinator who handles vet coordination, travel booking, paperwork guidance, crate advice, logistics updates throughout the move, and replanning when things change. It also covers communication with all travel partners, including drivers, boarding facilities, and quarantine facilities, before and during travel.
Other companies may quote a lower number upfront, but many do not use fixed pricing. They add fees when travel plans change or when additional paperwork is required, which happens on most international moves. Before hiring anyone, ask for a full explanation of what is included, what is not, and whether the price is fixed.
What Your Total Looks Like
Using the same examples from above:
One small dog moving domestically by air, with Complete Support: approximately $1,500 in required costs plus $900 in service fees, for a total around $2,400.
One small dog moving from the United States to Singapore, with Complete Support: approximately $5,000 in required costs plus $2,500 in service fees, for a total around $7,500.
These are estimates based on typical cases. Required costs fluctuate. Government fees change, airfreight pricing moves, and some moves involve complications that add cost. Build in a buffer when budgeting. If you work with PetRelocation, we will give you a range based on best and worst-case scenarios from our 20+ years of moves so you are not caught off guard.
What People Get Wrong When Budgeting
The biggest mistake is treating pet relocation like a plane ticket. It is not one charge. It is a chain of separate costs that build on each other, and the chain gets longer on international moves. The second mistake is budgeting only for the best case. Prices shift if flight options change, if your pet needs a larger crate than expected, if a destination requires extra treatment or paperwork, or if the route requires additional ground handling. Plan for the realistic range, not the floor.
If You Are Moving Without a Relocation Company
Everything on our blog and destination pages is available to you regardless of whether you hire us. If you prefer to manage the process yourself, the required costs above still apply. You are just taking on the coordination work directly. The USDA APHIS pet travel pages are the right starting point for understanding what your destination requires.
Getting a Useful Estimate
A general range only goes so far. The more specific you can be, the more useful the estimate. Before reaching out, have the following ready:
- your pet's breed, size, and age
- your origin city and destination city
- your target travel window
- how many pets are moving
- whether you want DIY guidance, paperwork help, or full move coordination
If you want an estimate specific to your pet's move, contact PetRelocation and we will walk through the numbers with you.