Pet sitting prices in Australia vary widely depending on the service type, your city, the number and type of animals involved, and which platform (if any) you use to book. This guide gives you realistic figures for 2026 so you can budget confidently and spot a price that's either too good to be true or simply too high for what's being offered.
A note on Sitterly's own model
This guide covers paid pet-sitting services across the broader Australian market, Mad Paws, Pawshake, Rover, and direct private arrangements. Sitterly itself operates differently: it's a non-monetary house-sitting platform where sitters receive free accommodation in exchange for caring for your pets and home. No money changes hands for the sit on Sitterly. If that's the model you're looking for, see our guide to <a href="/blog/how-much-can-you-save-house-sitting-australia">house-sitting savings</a> instead.
Average Pet Sitting Costs in Australia (2026)
These are typical rates you'll encounter on Australian pet-sitting platforms and through private arrangements:
- In-home pet sitting (full overnight stay): $60 to $120 per night. The sitter lives in your home while you're away. Higher rates in Sydney and Melbourne CBDs.
- Drop-in visits (30 minutes): $25 to $50 per visit. Sitter comes to your home once or twice a day to feed and check on your pet.
- Pet boarding (sitter's home): $40 to $80 per night. Your pet stays at the sitter's home. Includes meals and attention throughout the day.
- Dog walking (30 minutes): $25 to $45 per walk. Not a sitting service, but often offered by the same sitters.
- Holiday surcharges: Most sitters charge 20 to 50% more over Christmas, Easter, school holidays, and public long weekends when demand peaks.
Platform Fees Are Not Included in These Figures
On commission-based platforms, the price you see is not the price you pay. A $70 per night listing may attract a 5 to 15% homeowner service fee on top, taking the real cost to $80 or more per night. Always check the total before confirming. Note: Sitterly itself is a non-monetary exchange platform, sitters receive free accommodation rather than payment, so this article focuses on the broader paid pet-care market rather than Sitterly's own model.
What Affects Pet Sitting Prices in Australia?
Where You Live
Sydney and Melbourne consistently have the highest pet sitting rates in Australia. A full in-home sit in the Sydney inner suburbs can run $90 to $130 per night. The same service in regional Queensland or regional WA might be $50 to $70. Canberra and Brisbane sit somewhere in between. Supply matters too. In areas with fewer sitters, prices tend to be higher.
Number of Pets
Most sitters charge a base rate for one pet and add $15 to $30 per additional animal per night. If you have three dogs and two cats, expect to pay meaningfully more than the headline rate. This is reasonable, since more animals means more time, more complexity, and more responsibility.
Type of Pet
Dogs generally cost more to care for than cats, simply because of the walking and active attention involved. Large or reactive breeds may attract a premium. Animals with medical needs such as insulin injections, daily medications, or post-surgery care typically incur a higher rate to reflect the skill and effort involved. Fish, birds, and reptiles are sometimes cheaper, but not all sitters will take them.
Experience and Verification Level
A sitter with 50 five-star reviews, a police check, and five years of experience will reasonably charge more than someone who just joined the platform. In most cases, paying slightly more for a verified, well-reviewed sitter is worth it. The cost of a bad experience is far higher than the price difference.
Length of Stay
Some sitters offer weekly or monthly rate discounts for longer sits. If you travel frequently or are planning an extended trip, it's worth asking. A sitter doing a continuous 4-week sit has lower overhead than one rotating between clients every few days, and good sitters will often reflect that in their pricing.
In-Home Sitting vs Drop-In Visits vs Boarding: Cost Comparison
For a one-week trip with one dog, here's a rough comparison of what each option typically costs in a major Australian city:
- In-home pet sitting (7 nights): $490 to $840. Most expensive but lowest stress for your pet; your home is also occupied.
- Drop-in visits (2 per day × 7 days): $350 to $700. Good for independent pets; significant time alone each day.
- Pet boarding at sitter's home (7 nights): $280 to $560. More social for sociable dogs; your pet is in an unfamiliar environment.
- Commercial kennel (7 nights): $350 to $700. Regulated but impersonal; most animals find kennels stressful.
How to Find Affordable Pet Sitting Without Cutting Corners
Price shouldn't be your only consideration, but there are legitimate ways to keep costs reasonable without compromising on care:
- Book early: Sitters often fill peak dates months in advance. Last-minute bookings sometimes carry a premium because fewer options are available.
- Ask about longer-stay discounts: For trips over 10 days, many sitters will negotiate a lower nightly rate.
- Use a platform with no homeowner fees: Platforms that charge homeowners a 5 to 15% booking fee add meaningfully to the total cost. Sitterly is free for homeowners.
- Consider a newer sitter with strong references: A sitter with 10 excellent reviews is not necessarily worse than one with 100. New sitters often charge less while they build their review base.
- Be flexible on dates where possible: If your dates can flex slightly, you may find that a highly-rated sitter has availability at a lower peak rate.
Sitterly Is Free for Homeowners
There are no booking fees, service charges, or commissions on Sitterly. Homeowners and sitters connect directly. The platform is currently free for everyone during our growth phase, with a flat-fee subscription planned for sitters in the future, never a per-booking commission.
Is the Cheapest Option Ever Worth It?
Sometimes. A new sitter building their profile might charge $50 per night and do a genuinely excellent job. But a suspiciously low price with no reviews, no verification, and vague answers at the meet and greet is a different situation entirely. The cost of a bad experience, such as a pet that is not cared for properly or a home left in poor condition, is far higher than the price difference. Use price as context, not as your deciding factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do pet sitters charge more over Christmas and Easter?
Yes, almost universally. Peak holiday surcharges of 20 to 50% are standard across Australia. Some sitters also add a minimum-stay requirement (typically 3 to 5 nights) during peak periods. If you need care over the Christmas-New Year period in particular, start looking in October. The best sitters fill up entirely by November.
Should I tip my pet sitter?
Tipping isn't expected in Australia the way it is in the US, but it's a genuinely appreciated gesture for exceptional care. If your sitter handled a stressful situation, went out of their way with updates, or left your home cleaner than they found it, a cash tip or a positive written review (or both) is a thoughtful way to acknowledge it. A detailed review often does more for a sitter's future business than a tip.
Why do some pet sitters charge less than others with similar profiles?
Pricing is personal. Some sitters prioritise consistent work over maximum rate. Some live in lower cost-of-living areas. Some are newer and pricing competitively to build reviews. A lower price does not always mean lower quality, but always read the reviews and do the meet and greet regardless of price.
