Just spent way too much time researching dog costs and honestly, the price range is wild. Like, you can get some solid breeds for under $700, which surprised me. The cheapest dog breeds to buy aren't necessarily the ones with the lowest lifetime costs though - that's the real plot twist here. I was looking at Treeing Walker Coonhounds and Plott Hounds, both around $400-$800 to purchase, and they've got relatively low healthcare costs too. Same with Black and Tan Coonhounds and American Foxhounds - all under $800 to buy. If you're specifically hunting for the cheapest dog breeds upfront, those are your go-to options. But then I started digging into lifetime expenses and it gets complicated. A Dachshund might only cost $800-$1,500 to buy, but they rack up like $7,300 in healthcare costs over their life because of back problems. Pugs are similar - cheap purchase around $800-$1,500 but potentially $9,600 in vet bills. Meanwhile, some of the cheapest dog breeds like the Rat Terrier only cost $600-$1,200 to buy AND have minimal healthcare expenses ($1,500), so they're genuinely affordable long-term. Beagles are interesting too - $800-$1,500 purchase price but $7,700 in potential healthcare costs due to ear infections and allergies. I was also surprised how many breeds hover around that $1,000-$1,500 sweet spot for purchase price - Chihuahuas, Bichon Frises, English Setters, Papillons. The real money saver seems to be picking breeds that are naturally hardy. Border Collies and German Wirehaired Pointers both cost $800-$1,500 to buy with manageable healthcare costs around $1,700-$1,800. If budget is your main concern, you're looking at hunting dogs or working breeds as your cheapest dog breeds - they tend to be bred for durability. The least expensive part is actually the purchase; it's the 12-15 year commitment that costs real money.