A dog owner in New York City could pay $25 or $112 for a rabies vaccine, depending on where they go.

The spread was even wider for leptospirosis. The lowest available price in Vetted’s database was $20. The highest was $150.

That does not necessarily mean one clinic is charging five or seven times more for the same visit. Some of the lowest prices came from mobile or explicitly low-cost providers, while full-service veterinary hospitals may require an examination, charge administrative fees or bundle vaccines differently. But the numbers show how difficult it can be for pet owners to know whether a quoted price is typical.

Vetted analyzed dog vaccine prices from 42 clinics across New York City as part of its proprietary veterinary pricing index. The most common vaccines averaged between $63 and $71 per dose.

Rabies was the most widely available price in the dataset. Lyme was the most expensive vaccine on average, though far fewer clinics provided a Lyme price and not every dog will need it.

DHPP, sometimes listed as DA2PP, is a combination vaccine protecting against several diseases, including distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus. Bordetella is commonly associated with kennels, daycare, boarding and other settings where dogs spend time in close quarters.

The biggest surprise in the borough data was not how much more Manhattan clinics charged. It was how little difference there was between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Brooklyn clinics charged an average of $67 for rabies, $66 for DHPP, $69 for leptospirosis and $65 for Bordetella.

Manhattan’s averages were $66 for rabies, $66 for DHPP, $69 for leptospirosis and $66 for Bordetella.

At the 22 Brooklyn clinics that provided prices for all four vaccines, rabies, DHPP, leptospirosis and Bordetella cost an average of about $267 combined. The average at 12 Manhattan clinics was roughly $265.

In other words, crossing the East River is unlikely to produce meaningful savings on its own. The type of provider appears to matter more than the borough.

Queens was substantially cheaper in Vetted’s data, with average prices of $27 for rabies, $28 for DHPP and $25 for leptospirosis. But that should not be interpreted as evidence that Queens veterinary hospitals are generally less expensive.

The Queens sample included only three providers, two of which were named or operated as low-cost services. Only two had prices available for all four vaccines. Their average four-vaccine total was about $133, compared with more than $265 in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Vetted had only one available Bronx price, a $40 rabies vaccine, and no vaccine pricing from Staten Island. Those boroughs will require significantly more data before a meaningful comparison is possible.

The number listed beside a vaccine is not always the amount an owner will pay to walk out the door.

Vetted’s database included nine bills containing vaccine charges and a separate examination or technician-appointment fee. Those appointment fees ranged from $34 to $129, with a median of $75.

One bill included a $129 annual preventive exam, a $114 combined DA2PP and leptospirosis vaccine and a $57.50 oral Bordetella vaccine. The three charges brought the visit to $300.50.

Another annual visit included four vaccines totaling $240.50. Once a $75 physical examination, a $106 lab test, an $8.50 medical-waste charge and a separate $30 physician fee were included, the bill reached $460.

These are not necessarily improper charges. A veterinarian may need to examine a dog before vaccinating it, particularly if the animal is a new patient or has not been seen recently. But they illustrate why consumers should ask for the expected total rather than comparing vaccine prices alone.

Owners can ask:

A $64 DHPP vaccine does not mean a puppy’s DHPP series will cost $64.

The American Animal Hospital Association recommends that puppies receive at least three doses of the combination vaccine between 6 and 16 weeks old, generally spaced two to four weeks apart. The initial leptospirosis series consists of two doses, also spaced two to four weeks apart.

Using Vetted’s citywide averages, three DHPP doses, two leptospirosis doses and one rabies shot would cost about $387 in vaccine charges alone. Adding one Bordetella dose would bring the total to roughly $452, before examinations or other fees.

The exact schedule depends on the dog’s age, medical history, previous vaccinations and risk of exposure. Adult dogs also do not necessarily need every vaccine every year. Owners should ask their veterinarian for a written schedule showing which vaccines are due, why they are recommended and when the next booster will be needed.

Rabies is not optional in New York City. Dogs must be kept current on the vaccine, with puppies receiving their first rabies shot by 4 months old.

AAHA also classifies distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, leptospirosis and rabies as core vaccines. Vaccines such as Lyme and Bordetella depend more heavily on a dog’s lifestyle, travel, geography and exposure to other animals.

That distinction matters for the bill. A dog that regularly attends daycare, boards, visits dog parks or travels outside the city may receive a different recommendation from one with limited exposure to other dogs or ticks.

New Yorkers willing to use a mobile clinic, nonprofit program or public vaccine event may pay far less than the citywide averages.

Animal Care Centers of NYC holds free pop-up vaccination clinics in the Bronx and Queens, according to NYC311. The events can include rabies, DA2PP and Bordetella vaccines for dogs, although availability and eligibility may vary.

Pet owners should confirm what is included before choosing a clinic solely on price. A $25 vaccine that requires a separate examination may ultimately cost more than a $50 vaccine offered during a technician appointment.

The most useful comparison is not “How much is the shot?” It is “What will I pay in total for everything my dog needs at this visit?”

Vetted analyzed available prices from 42 NYC clinics with at least one listed dog-vaccine price. The sample included 25 clinics in Brooklyn, 13 in Manhattan, three in Queens and one in the Bronx. No Staten Island prices were available.

Prices reflect individual doses and do not consistently distinguish between vaccine brands, formulations, one-year and three-year products or initial doses and boosters. Clinic prices can change, and the dataset is not a statistically representative sample of every veterinary provider in the city.

The analysis also reviewed vaccine-related line items from bills submitted to Vetted. Personal information is removed before pricing data is added to the database.