The Burrow
Mar 10, 2026
For many pet owners, their pets are beloved members of the family. Across Australia and the United States, pets are increasingly being pampered with gourmet treats, boutique toys and premium grooming, reflecting a growing willingness among pet owners to invest in their animals’ comfort and well-being. This surge in indulgent pet care highlights the deep emotional bond people share with their four-legged companions, as well as the expanding industry built around enhancing their quality of life.
To find out more, the pet insurance experts at Compare the Market looked at which cities are home to the most spoilt pets. By analysing spending habits and online search behaviours, this campaign reveals where pet owners are most likely to shower their animals with luxury products, gifts and services. Understanding these trends offers valuable insight into the emotional connection between people and their pets, and how this relationship influences spending and care decisions.
Our study ranked the 50 most populous cities in the US and the 20 most populous in Australia using six key indicators, including the proportion of income spent on pets and search activity for grooming, treats, toys, boarding and luxury pet products. Each factor was normalised, weighted and combined into an overall score out of 100, allowing cities to be ranked by the extent to which their pets are indulged.
Across Australia, pet ownership patterns reveal that indulgent pet care isn’t limited to the largest metropolitan centres. In fact, several smaller cities rank among the nation’s most devoted when it comes to animal grooming and luxury pet products.
The Central Coast ranks as Australia’s top location for spoilt pets, driven largely by having one of the highest proportions of income spent on pets nationwide at 2.68%. This shows an exceptional level of commitment among pet owners, particularly when it comes to grooming and indulgent goods.
Despite its smaller size, the region shows consistently high engagement with pampering services, highlighting a culture where pets are treated as very important members of the family.
Adelaide performs strongly across multiple indicators, with pet owners spending around 2.60% of their income on pet care. The city shows balanced interest across grooming, treats and luxury items, with search activity for premium pet services exceeding national averages.
This reflects a well-established pet ownership culture, where a growing appetite for indulgent products complements everyday care.
Ballarat stands out for having the highest proportion of income spent on pets in the study, at 2.81%. While smaller in population, Ballarat records strong per capita search activity for grooming services and treats, indicating highly engaged pet owners.
This suggests that in regional cities, pet ownership often comes with a particularly strong emphasis on care, enrichment and quality of life.
The Gold Coast’s ranking is driven by strong search interest in treats and luxury pet products, including gourmet foods and premium grooming services. The region’s affluent demographic is reflected in elevated spending on indulgent pet experiences, reinforcing its reputation as a hotspot for pampered pets.
Here, pet owners spend 2.45% of their income and are particularly likely to invest in lifestyle-enhancing products that go beyond basic care.
Across the USA, patterns of pet ownership show that indulgent pet care is closely linked to both income levels and lifestyle trends. Cities with larger populations and higher median incomes often demonstrate greater spending on luxury pet goods, while smaller or economically diverse cities still show strong engagement with grooming and boarding services.
Atlanta ranks as the top US city for spoilt pets, driven by a high proportion of income spent on them (6.5%) and a strong interest in luxury pet goods, which account for 7.2% of pet-related searches. The city’s large population and relatively high median household income contribute to a thriving market for premium pet products and services.
This reflects a culture where pet owners are increasingly willing to invest in indulgent experiences, reinforcing Atlanta’s position as a leader in pet pampering.
Detroit stands out for its exceptionally high proportion of income spent on pets at 14.6%, highlighting the importance of animals in residents’ lives despite lower median income levels (less than half that of Atlanta).
Even though the city uses grooming and boarding services less than the other top four states, its residents still invest just as much care, and hard‑earned income, into their pets.
Las Vegas ranks highly due to its strong interest in luxury pet products, with the highest number of searches for gourmet pet food, premium grooming and indulgent accessories. This reflects the city’s broader culture of luxury and lifestyle spending, which extends to animal care.
In Las Vegas, pet owners spend an average of 7.3% of their income on pets and are particularly likely to search for and use premium services.
Miami’s ranking is driven by how much residents are spending on their pets, with households allocating 8.7% of their income to pet care. The city also shows strong interest in treats, toys and indulgent goods, alongside high engagement with grooming and boarding services.
The warm climate and active lifestyle likely contribute to increased demand for grooming and care, with pet owners consistently demonstrating a commitment to indulgent, attentive pet ownership.
These findings highlight just how much pet owners are willing to invest in their animals’ happiness, comfort and overall well-being. However, alongside everyday indulgences, unexpected veterinary costs can arise at any time, making pet insurance an important safeguard.
Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager – General Insurance, says having the right cover for you can help ensure your pets receive the care they need without placing financial strain on your household.
“Many pet owners go above and beyond to give their pets the best possible life, from premium food to specialised grooming and care. Pet insurance plays an important role in protecting this important member of your family, helping to cover unanticipated veterinary expenses and ensuring pets can receive prompt treatment when they need it most. Having the right policy for you can offer peace of mind so you can focus on keeping your pet happy and healthy.”
This dataset ranks the 50 most populous cities in the US and the 20 most populous cities in Australia based on how much they spoil their pets, using 6 key factors. Data for each factor were collected and normalised to a score between 0 and 1. If data was missing, a score of 0 was given. These scores were then combined to give each city a total score out of 100, and cities were ranked from highest to lowest.
The factors used are as follows:
The factors were weighted as follows:
The factors were indexed as follows:
Sources:
All data is correct as of 11/02/26, and all search data is from the period Jan – Dec 2025. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.