Buyer guide · Pricing
Chihuahua Puppy Prices
What a Chihuahua puppy actually costs from a responsible breeder, what drives the number up or down, and what should already be included.
Short answer
Our currently listed Chihuahua puppies are priced $6,500–$7,000, set per puppy by size, coat, colour and pedigree. Across the wider U.S. market, breeder listings commonly fall around $2,500–$7,500. Vaccinations, vet-signed records, a written 12-month health guarantee, microchip and California delivery are included in our price. Availability and pricing change, so confirm current figures with us directly.
A note on sizing words
"Teacup", "mini", "micro" and "tiny" are informal marketing and search terms — not official AKC varieties. The American Kennel Club recognizes a single Chihuahua breed with an adult weight not exceeding 6 lb, in two coat types (smooth and long). We use these words because they are how families search, and we always publish each puppy's real projected adult weight and both parents' weights so you can judge size honestly. Very small puppies need extra time with their litter and careful blood-sugar management, and we never place a very small puppy before it is ready.
Learn more in our guide to choosing a Chihuahua puppy or the Chihuahua buyer FAQ.
Our current puppy prices
This is the price of every Chihuahua puppy we currently have listed — our own figures, not a market average. Availability changes; see available puppies for live status.
Chihuahua price ranges by size, coat and color
These ranges are general market guidance for California buyers, not our quote. Our own prices are listed above and are confirmed per puppy. For the smallest size specifically, see our teacup Chihuahua puppies guide.
| Type | Typical price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard apple head Chihuahua (5–6 lb adult) | $3,500 – $4,500 | Breed-standard size and head type, smooth coat, common colors. The most available and most affordable tier from a responsible California breeder. |
| Small Chihuahua (4–5 lb adult) | $4,000 – $5,500 | Noticeably petite adults with correct structure. Demand for smaller adults pushes this tier above standard size. |
| "Teacup" / very small Chihuahua (2–4 lb adult) | $5,000 – $7,500 | Informal size language, not an AKC variety. These puppies stay with their litter longer, need blood-sugar monitoring, and carry more veterinary care before go-home, which is reflected in price. |
| Long-hair coat | +$500 – $1,000 | Long coats are less common per litter and mature slowly, so they usually sit above smooth-coat siblings. |
| Rare colors (blue, lilac, chocolate, merle) | +$500 – $1,500 | Color pricing is market-driven, not a health or quality claim. Merle in particular should only come from a breeder who explains the genetics honestly. |
What the price should already include
- Age-appropriate vaccinations and deworming with vet-signed records
- Veterinary health check before go-home
- Written 12-month congenital and hereditary defect guarantee, signed in person
- Pedigree paperwork where applicable (AKC-eligible or comparable European registries)
- Microchip registration
- Go-home kit: current food, blanket with littermate scent, feeding and blood-sugar instructions
- Hand-delivery in California, or a vetted in-cabin flight nanny quote elsewhere — never cargo
- Lifetime breeder support by email and phone
Read exactly what is and isn't covered on our health guarantee page.
First-year cost of owning a Chihuahua
Purchase price is only part of the budget. Typical US costs after go-home:
| Expense | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Remaining puppy vaccinations and vet visits | $250 – $500 |
| Spay or neuter | $300 – $800 (higher in coastal metros) |
| Food (a Chihuahua eats very little) | $200 – $400/yr |
| Carrier, crate, harness, bedding, sweaters | $150 – $350 |
| Dental cleanings (Chihuahuas are dentally fragile) | $300 – $700 every 1–2 years |
| Pet insurance | $20 – $50/month |
| Grooming (long coats) | $40 – $80 per visit |
Plan on roughly $1,000–$2,500 in the first year and $700–$1,500 per year afterward. Dental care is the most common recurring expense in the breed.
Price red flags
- A "teacup" puppy for a few hundred dollars. Nursery and veterinary care are expensive, so a price that low usually means something is missing. Verify before paying.
- Deposit-only conversation. If the seller will discuss payment but not a live video call with the puppy, stop.
- Wire, crypto or gift-card payment. These are difficult or impossible to reverse, which is why fraudulent sellers commonly ask for them.
- Surprise fees after the deposit. Crate, insurance or "customs" fees for a domestic puppy are commonly reported in puppy-sale fraud. Ask for every cost in writing up front.
- Cargo shipping quoted as the only option. Ask what alternatives exist. We hand-deliver in California and use in-cabin flight nannies elsewhere.
Chihuahua prices by metro
Puppy price is the same wherever you live; what changes is how the puppy reaches you.
Chihuahua puppy prices in Los Angeles
Personal hand-delivery from Crestline, scheduled with you
Chihuahua puppy prices in San Diego
Personal drive delivery from Crestline, scheduled with you
Chihuahua puppy prices in Orange County
Personal hand-delivery from Crestline, scheduled with you
Chihuahua puppy prices in San Francisco
Drive delivery or in-cabin flight nanny
Chihuahua puppy prices in New York
In-cabin flight nanny travel, quoted at cost
Chihuahua puppy prices in Miami
In-cabin flight nanny travel, quoted at cost
Chihuahua price questions
How much does a Chihuahua puppy cost?
Our own currently listed Chihuahua puppies are priced $6,500–$7,000, set per puppy by size, coat, colour and pedigree. Across the wider U.S. market, breeder listings commonly fall around $2,500–$7,500. Standard 5–6 lb apple head puppies tend to sit at the lower end; very small ("teacup") puppies, long coats and less common colours sit higher. A price far below the usual range is worth questioning carefully before you pay anything.
Why are teacup Chihuahuas more expensive?
"Teacup" is informal search language, not an AKC variety — it describes an adult under about 4 lb. Those puppies stay with their litter longer, need frequent feeding and blood-sugar monitoring, and require more veterinary attention before go-home. The added cost reflects that care and the fact that few puppies per litter mature that small.
What should be included in the price?
Vaccinations and deworming with vet-signed records, a pre-go-home vet exam, a written health guarantee, pedigree paperwork where applicable, microchip, a go-home kit, and delivery within California. If any of those are billed as add-ons, ask why before paying a deposit.
Is a very cheap Chihuahua puppy a red flag?
It is worth investigating. Extended nursery care and veterinary work cost real money, so a price far below the usual range often means the seller is not providing them — and puppy-sale fraud is common online. This is buyer-risk guidance rather than proof that any particular listing is dishonest: ask for a live video call and vet-signed records before any payment.
Do you charge extra for delivery?
Hand-delivery within California is included. Outside California we quote an in-cabin flight nanny at cost. We do not send our puppies as unaccompanied cargo.
What does a Chihuahua cost per year after purchase?
As a general budgeting guide, plan roughly $1,000 to $2,500 for the first year including remaining vaccinations, spay or neuter, food, supplies and insurance, then about $700 to $1,500 per year afterward. Dental care is the single most common recurring expense in the breed.
Want current pricing and availability?
Availability changes weekly. Email genasax@icloud.com and we'll send current puppies, sizes and prices.
See our past clients and their puppies
Wondering what your investment looks like at home? See the families who have already welcomed one of our puppies.
Read experiences from our puppy families