Aussies go to great lengths for their pets, with a deep love for their animal companions as members of the family, but not all cities make life easy for ownership.
New research ranks the nation’s best and worst cities for pet owners, revealing stark gaps in access to vets, dog parks, pet‑friendly cafes and affordable insurance that shape daily life.
Muval’s 2025 Pet Relocation Index assessed the 50 most populous cities, scoring infrastructure, affordability, legislation and policy and health and safety to identify the most pet‑friendly locations – and those falling short.
A recent report from Animal Medicines Australia reveals Australia’s pet population has increased to 31.6 million.
Six of the top 10 pet-friendly cities were in NSW with Nowra-Bomaderry, considered the best location to be an owner.
Factors such as affordable living and progressive pet laws like tenant protections and the one-off registration fee influenced NSW to dominate the top-ranking positions.
In second place is Queensland’s Sunshine Coast that scored consistently high across all four categories.
The region stands out for its pet-friendly lifestyle with nearly double the national average of eateries welcoming dogs across major cities.
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Source: Muval.
Four capital cities sat among the least pet-friendly locations in Australia, scoring lower on infrastructure per capita such as access to dog parks, groomers and pet-friendly eateries.
Topping the least pet-friendly places to live in Australia was Melbourne with an overall score of 67.45 with a stand out legislation and policy score that sits at 100.
The city offers free pet registration for the first year, however, renewal fees are the highest of all 50 cities at $71 per year for dogs and $44 for cats.
Western Australia is the only state that still allows a pet bond, meaning renters can be asked to pay extra to cover potential pet-related damage or pest control.
Perth, Kalgoorlie and Busselton were spotlighted for low legislation and policy scores.
Source: Muval.
Lower infrastructure scores also dragged Perth and Busselton rankings down, while Kalgoorlie-Boulder faced challenges in health and safety due to frequent extreme heat days as well as limited access to vets and vet nurses per capita.
NSW and Queensland dominated the rankings for the most pet-friendly locations for infrastructure with four of the top ten cities located in NSW and two in Queensland.
All cities in the top 10 were regional, spotlighting both pets and owners benefit from more space, green areas and pet-friendly services outside metro areas.
To compare affordability, the study analysed the five cheapest pet insurance options on a major comparison platform for a five-year-old, desexed Cavoodle and domestic shorthair cat.
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NSW and Queensland dominated the top pet-friendly rankings Picture i stock image
Lifetime costs were calculated based on an expected lifespan of 12 years for dogs and 14 years for cats, with results revealing that the ACT offers the most affordable pet insurance for both with yearly premiums of $704 for dogs and $662 for cats that is approximately $8,400 and $9,300 over their respective lifetimes.
Insurance costs were relatively consistent across most states.
NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT scored full marks for legislation and pet policies, with no major issues around landlords, strata rules or pet bonds.
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NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT scored full marks for legislation and pet policies
Nowra – Bomaderry in NSW scored the highest for health and safety, the area benefits from mild weather with only around 25 extreme weather days per year where temperatures rise above 30 degrees celcius or below five.
Muval CEO James Morrell said NSW dominates because of infrastructure, affordability and access to health and safety for pets.
“That means there’s plenty of parks, vet clinics, pet services while also being affordable and safe for pets and their owners,” he said.
When it came to Melbourne and WA, Mr Morrell said the biggest point that sets them apart was their limited infrastructure for pets.
“They had great scores on legislation and safety for pets but they were behind NSW in infrastructure and access to dog parks and that sort of thing,” he said.
Mr Morrell said as pet ownership is on the rise across the whole country, pet-friendly infrastructure areas friendly to pets such as parks, walking trails, access to vet clinics were great considerations when relocating.
“Without that infrastructure and access to these areas can make life pretty hard for pet owners,” he said.
Pet ownership has risen across the country. Source: Getty
Mr Morrell said this access can help to reduce stress and make pet ownership a lot smoother.
It’s starting to get into a really busy time for moving house with most people moving between November and February so people who do have pets are very much looking for pet-accessible locations to move to.
“Moving house is always a big change, and when you have pets, it’s even more important to plan ahead to keep them safe, happy and stress-free,” he said.
Before the move, Mr Morrell recommended to start familiarising pets with their travel crate or carrier and also ensure all microchip details, vet records and pet insurance are up to date.
He also said to consider bringing along a comfort item like a favourite toy or blanket.
“If possible, set up a quiet, secure space in the new home where your pet can retreat while boxes are being moved,” he said.
When your pet does arrive at its next location, Mr Morrell advised exploring the new neighbourhood together such as visiting local parks, vet clinics and pet friendly cafes as this “will help your pet adjust quickly and start enjoying their new home.”
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