Key takeaways
- A Maltese puppy from a U.S. breeder costs about $500-$4,500 depending on the guide, with rescue adoption fees of roughly $50-$700.
- PetBudget's model puts year one at $4,419 and each later year at about $2,113, or $176 a month, with lifetime cost near $30,832 over a 13.5-year life.
- Grooming at $741 a year costs far more than food at $93, and a collapsed trachea stent can cost $3,500-$6,500.
Maltese dog price runs $500-$4,500 for a puppy from a U.S. breeder, depending on which guide you read, and $50-$700 to adopt. The purchase price is only the start. PetBudget's model puts the first year at $4,419 and the full life at about $30,832, because grooming and insurance cost far more than food for a dog of 4-7 pounds.
Maltese price at a glance
The cost of Maltese dogs is $500-$4,500 for a breeder puppy, $50-$700 to adopt, and about $2,113 a year to keep after year one. The table puts the main numbers side by side.
| Cost | Typical amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy from a breeder | $500-$2,000 | Spot Pet Insurance, 2025 |
| Puppy from a reputable breeder (regional ranges) | $1,000-$4,500 | iHeartDogs, August 2026 |
| Rescue adoption fee | $50-$700 | Spot Pet Insurance, iHeartDogs |
| First-year total | $4,419 | PetBudget model |
| Each year after year one | $2,113 | PetBudget model |
| Monthly cost after year one | $176 | PetBudget model |
| Lifetime cost (13.5-year life) | $30,832 | PetBudget model |
$4,419
First-year cost of a Maltese in PetBudget's model, including a $1,200 puppy, vaccines, supplies, training, food, grooming, and insurance. See the full Maltese cost breakdown.
Photo: Boy holding a Maltese dog / Pexels
Maltese dog price from breeders
The Maltese dog price depends on lineage, coat quality, and region, and two U.S. guides give different ranges. Spot Pet Insurance's Maltese cost guide, last updated in August 2025, puts a breeder puppy at $500-$2,000 and says some breeders charge more for superior lineage. iHeartDogs' Maltese puppy guide, published August 14, 2026, lists higher regional ranges:
| Region | Price range |
|---|---|
| Midwest | $1,000-$3,000 |
| South | $1,200-$3,500 |
| Northeast | $1,500-$4,000 |
| West | $1,500-$4,500 |
The West tops out $1,500 above the Midwest. iHeartDogs names breeder reputation, lineage, coat quality, and champion bloodlines as price drivers, with no dollar figure for each. Spot's guide is a year older than iHeartDogs', so treat the higher regional ranges as the more current figures and Spot's range as a floor. Ask each breeder for vet records and meet the parents before paying a deposit.
Price for Maltese puppies to adopt from a rescue
Adopting a Maltese costs $50-$700, per Spot, which says the fee typically includes spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations, and necessary medical treatment. iHeartDogs gives a narrower $100-$600 and notes that rescue Maltese are often past the puppy stage, which means less puppy training. Those services are worth about $561 in PetBudget's first-visit estimate, so a fee often costs less than the care it covers. For fees across all dogs, see how much it costs to adopt a dog.
First-year Maltese cost
The first-year Maltese cost is $4,419 in PetBudget's model, and $2,425 of that is one-time setup. The rest is recurring care for the first twelve months.
| Line item | First year |
|---|---|
| Puppy (model input) | $1,200 |
| Grooming | $741 |
| Insurance | $599 |
| Initial vet visit and vaccinations | $561 |
| Routine vet care | $561 |
| Starter supplies | $404 |
| Training classes | $260 |
| Food | $93 |
| Total | $4,419 |
The $1,200 puppy line is a model input inside the breeder ranges. A $500 puppy would put year one near $3,719, and a $2,000 puppy near $5,219. A $4,500 puppy would put it near $7,719. A $300 rescue fee would put it near $3,519, since the other setup costs stay about the same. For how setup items are priced, see the first-year pet cost ledger and the puppy supplies list.
Maltese yearly and monthly cost
After the first year, a Maltese costs about $2,113 a year, or $176 a month, in PetBudget's model. Grooming, insurance, and vet care make up almost all of it.
| Line item | Per year |
|---|---|
| Grooming | $741 |
| Insurance | $599 |
| Routine vet care | $561 |
| Supplies and toys | $119 |
| Food | $93 |
| Total | $2,113 |
Spot puts Maltese diet costs at $20-$50 a month and professional grooming at about $50 a session every 6-10 weeks. By PetBudget's arithmetic, that is roughly $260-$435 a year. PetBudget rates the breed 5 out of 5 for grooming and models $741 a year. For price ranges by coat type, see dog grooming cost.
Spot's lifetime figure is inconsistent. Its heading says $18,970, and its text says about $20,650 to $47,500. PetBudget's $30,832 includes insurance for all 13.5 years.
Health costs behind the Maltese cost
Knees, teeth, and the windpipe are the main cost drivers. PetBudget's breed data lists patellar luxation, periodontal disease, and collapsing trachea as the key conditions.
| Condition | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Patellar luxation surgery | $1,000-$5,000 per leg | MetLife Pet Insurance luxating patella guide |
| Dental cleaning | $350-$1,500 or more | PetMD dog teeth cleaning cost |
| Tracheal stent or ring surgery | $3,500-$6,500 | Embrace Pet Insurance tracheal collapse guide |
MetLife lists the Maltese among breeds that can develop a luxating patella. Spot puts the same surgery at $1,000-$3,000 per knee. Embrace calls tracheal collapse primarily a small and toy breed condition, and it lists diagnostics at $500-$1,500 and medication at $50-$200 a month on top of the surgery. Dental disease is the most common bill for toy breeds. A cleaning plus extractions can be one of the larger routine costs, as covered in dog teeth cleaning cost.
$51 a month
Average pet insurance premium for a Maltese in 2024, per Spot Pet Insurance. PetBudget models $599 a year, or about $50 a month, for a toy breed.
Insurance and the emergency fund
Insurance is worth pricing early for a Maltese, because knee and windpipe surgeries cost thousands. Enroll while the dog is young and read waiting periods and pre-existing conditions first. For dental coverage, see pet insurance dental coverage. PetBudget's model sets an emergency reserve of $2,000 for a toy-size dog, based on MetLife's 2025 data on pet emergencies. See the emergency vet cost guide for typical bills.
Why the cost of Maltese dogs stays steady
Demand for dogs keeps growing. U.S. dog ownership rose from 51% to 53% of households in 2025, or 71 million households, per Global Pet Industry's summary of the APPA 2026 State of the Industry report. More buyers means more sellers of every quality. Check a breeder's health records before you pay, whatever the price.
How to lower the Maltese cost
You cannot change the coat, but four choices keep the bill lower.
- Insure while young. Cover the dog before knee or windpipe problems appear.
- Brush at home. Regular brushing stretches the time between professional grooms.
- Brush teeth early. Home dental care can delay the first professional cleaning.
- Compare regions. A Midwest breeder tops out $1,500 below the West.
A Maltese lives 12-15 years, so yearly costs repeat for over a decade. To run your own numbers with a different puppy price, open the pet cost calculator. To compare another toy breed, see the Yorkie price guide or the Pomeranian price guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Maltese?
A Maltese puppy from a breeder costs $500-$2,000 per Spot Pet Insurance and $1,000-$4,500 across iHeartDogs' regional ranges. Rescue adoption runs $50-$700. PetBudget's model uses a $1,200 purchase price and puts the first-year total at $4,419.
Why do Maltese price ranges differ so much?
Lineage, coat quality, champion bloodlines, and breeder reputation all move the price, per iHeartDogs. Region matters too, with the West listed at $1,500-$4,500 and the Midwest at $1,000-$3,000.
How much does a Maltese cost per month?
PetBudget's model puts the ongoing cost at about $176 a month after year one, covering food, vet care, grooming, insurance, and supplies. Grooming alone is $741 a year.
Is a Maltese expensive to own?
A Maltese eats little, with food at $93 a year in PetBudget's model. Grooming at $741 and insurance at $599 are the largest recurring costs.
How long do Maltese live?
Spot Pet Insurance gives 12-15 years. PetBudget's breed data uses 13.5 years as the typical figure.
See your own pet's real numbers.
Run the calculator with your breed, metro area, and care choices for a first-year, annual, and lifetime cost estimate — not a national average.