Home / Breeds / Compare / Golden Retriever vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Golden Retriever is a large breed described as "Friendly, eager, gentle and steady", while the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed described as "Gentle, affectionate, graceful and eager to please". On estimated monthly costs the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel works out cheaper, at about $68 a month for food plus the midpoint of insurance, about $27 less than the Golden Retriever at $95. For daily exercise, plan around 75 minutes a day at the middle of the Golden Retriever range, against 37.5 minutes a day for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
| Measure | Golden Retriever | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Sporting | Toy |
| Size class | large | small |
| Height | 21.5 to 24 in | 12 to 13 in |
| Weight | 55 to 75 lb | 12 to 18 lb |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Exercise per day | 60 to 90 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Good with children | Good with children | Good with children |
| With other dogs | Good with dogs | Good with dogs |
| Apartment life | With enough exercise | Well suited |
| Energy | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Trainability | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Grooming needs | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Shedding | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Barking | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Coat | Dense, water repellent double coat with feathering on the chest, legs and tail. | Silky, medium length coat with feathering on ears, chest, legs and tail. |
| Food cost per month | $40 | $13 |
| Insurance per month | $40 to $70 | $40 to $70 |
| Estimated total per month | $95 (estimate) | $68 (estimate) |
Estimated totals add the standard tier food estimate for a typical adult to the midpoint of the insurance range in each breed profile. They are planning estimates, not quotes, and the method behind them is on our methodology page.
The biggest gap is size: the middle of the Golden Retriever weight range is about 65 lb, against 15 lb for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a difference of about 50 lb.
The next biggest gap is lifespan: the middle of the Golden Retriever range is 11 years, against 13.5 years for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The third gap worth noting is daily exercise: the middle of the Golden Retriever plan is about 75 minutes a day, against 37.5 minutes a day for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Golden Retriever: Friendly, eager, gentle and steady. Few breeds match the Golden Retriever for warmth and willingness.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Gentle, affectionate, graceful and eager to please. If the perfect gentle companion dog exists, the Cavalier makes a strong claim.
Food for a typical adult runs about $40 a month for the Golden Retriever (65 lb, roughly 3.7 cups a day at a standard quality tier) and about $13 a month for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (15 lb, roughly 1.2 cups a day). Insurance usually falls between $40 and $70 a month for the Golden Retriever, and between $40 and $70 a month for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Adding food to the midpoint of insurance gives an estimated total of about $95 a month for the Golden Retriever and $68 a month for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. That difference is driven mainly by food, which follows typical weight: 65 lb for the Golden Retriever against 15 lb for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the food estimate rises with body weight. Food differs by about $27 a month, while the insurance midpoints differ by about $0.
Run your own numbers, including year one costs, in the cost of a dog calculator. How every figure on this page is built and checked is set out on our methodology page.
The Golden Retriever costs more on these estimates, at about $95 a month against $68 for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a difference of about $27. The total is food at a standard tier plus the midpoint of the insurance range for each breed.
The Golden Retriever needs more exercise: 60 to 90 minutes a day, against 30 to 45 minutes a day for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Both profiles carry the same rating, "Good with children", so this pairing does not separate them on children. Size, energy and steady supervision matter more than the label here.
Read the full profiles: Golden Retriever and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Try any two breeds in the interactive compare tool, browse all popular breed comparisons, or take the breed quiz to score all 469 profiles against your life.
Last updated: November 2026