Alaskan Malamute vs Saint Bernard

A side-by-side breakdown of size, cost, grooming load and lifestyle fit — with a straight answer on which suits which household.

Short answer

These two are closely matched. The decision comes down to cost and coat rather than temperament — pick Alaskan Malamute if monthly budget is the deciding factor.

Comparison table

Attribute	Alaskan Malamute	Saint Bernard
Species	dog	dog
Origin	United States	Switzerland / Italy
Weight (kg)	34–43	54–82
Height (cm)	58–64	65–90
Lifespan (years)	10–14	8–10
Monthly cost (USD)	$121	$143
Yearly cost (USD)	$1452	$1716
Purchase price (USD)	$2600	$2900
Grooming need (1–5)	4	4
Shedding (1–5)	5	5
Energy (1–5)	4	2
Trainability (1–5)	3	3
Apartment fit (1–5)	1	1
Good with kids (1–5)	3	4
Vocal (1–5)	2	2

What the numbers mean

Alaskan Malamute weighs 34–43 kg and lives 10–14 years; Saint Bernard weighs 54–82 kg and lives 8–10 years.
On estimated monthly cost, Alaskan Malamute runs about $121/month versus $143/month for Saint Bernard — a difference of roughly $22 a month, or $264 a year.
Both have the same apartment suitability score (1/5).
Both have the same shedding score (5/5).
Both have the same grooming requirement (4/5).
Alaskan Malamute has the higher energy level (4/5 vs 2/5) — higher means more daily exercise.
Both have the same trainability score (3/5).
Saint Bernard has the higher kid-friendliness score (4/5 vs 3/5).
Both have the same vocalisation score (2/5).

Cost over ten years

At the estimated monthly rates above, ten years of routine care (food, treats, grooming, medication, vet visits and supplies — excluding insurance, emergency treatment and purchase price) works out to roughly $14,520 for Alaskan Malamute and $17,160 for Saint Bernard. The gap is $2,640 — usually larger than the difference in purchase price.

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