Medication price ranges by category#
Rough out-of-pocket pharmacy price ranges by category of medication for people without prescription drug coverage in Canada.
This page gives rough out-of-pocket pharmacy prices by category of medication, for people who pay at the pharmacy without prescription drug coverage. Pricing varies meaningfully between pharmacies and between brand and generic versions of the same medication, so the numbers below are ranges, not quotes.
For ongoing or higher-cost medications, it is worth phoning two or three pharmacies in your area before you fill the prescription. Membership warehouses (Costco) and some independent pharmacies are often noticeably cheaper than chains for generics, especially for ongoing prescriptions.
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How pharmacy pricing works in Canada#
Three things drive the price you pay at the counter:
- The drug cost itself. Generic versions of older medications are often very cheap; newer brand-name and biologic medications can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per month.
- The dispensing fee. Every pharmacy charges a dispensing fee per prescription filled, typically $9-$13. Some warehouse-style pharmacies are around $4-$5. If you fill three prescriptions at once, you pay three dispensing fees.
- The pharmacy's markup. Most pharmacies add a percentage markup on top of the drug cost. This varies, which is why the same prescription can be 20-40% more at one pharmacy than another.
If you don't have drug coverage and are filling an ongoing prescription, the practical impact is large - shopping the same prescription between three pharmacies can change the annual cost by hundreds of dollars.
How drug plans interact with these prices#
The ranges below are out-of-pocket prices. If you have a drug plan, your plan often covers most of these costs, leaving only a co-pay or deductible:
- Provincial public drug plans (the Ontario Drug Benefit and OHIP+ in Ontario, the Quebec public drug plan, BC Fair PharmaCare, the Alberta Adult Health Benefit, the New Brunswick Drug Plan, and so on) cover specific groups - older adults, people with low income, people receiving social assistance, and others. Eligibility and copays vary.
- Workplace and private drug plans vary widely. Most cover generics in full and brand-name medications at the price of the generic.
- No drug plan. You pay the out-of-pocket price below.
If a medication is too expensive, ask the clinician whether a less expensive medication in the same category would work for you. There is often more than one acceptable option.
Categories and ranges#
The ranges are for a typical month's supply unless noted. Prices are in Canadian dollars and reflect approximate retail pharmacy ranges before insurance.
Skin (dermatology)#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Topical acne creams or gels (single ingredient) | $10-$80 per tube, depending on the active ingredient and tube size |
| Combination acne topicals (two ingredients in one tube) | $30-$130 per tube |
| Newer prescription topical acne products | $150-$300 per tube |
| Oral antibiotic for acne (short course, 1-3 months) | $20-$80 per month |
| Oral hormone-balancing medication for acne (e.g., for adult female acne) | $10-$25 per month |
| Oral retinoid for severe acne (e.g., 5-6 month course) | $30-$100 per month |
| Topical steroid creams (mild to potent) | $5-$40 per tube |
| Non-steroid eczema cream | $150-$280 per tube |
| Topical psoriasis combination products | $75-$260 per product |
| Newer topical psoriasis foams or creams | $300-$400 per tube |
| Antifungal cream (jock itch, athlete's foot, ringworm) | $10-$20 per tube |
| Antifungal shampoo (e.g., for dandruff or scalp psoriasis) | $15-$30 per bottle |
| Oral antifungal medication (short course) | $20-$60 |
| Topical solution for eyelash growth | $40-$160 per bottle |
Birth control#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Combined birth control pills (generic, monthly) | $8-$20 per month |
| Combined birth control pills (brand, monthly) | $15-$30 per month |
| Extended-cycle pills (one box covers about three months) | $40-$80 per box |
| Progestin-only pills | $10-$30 per month |
| Birth control patch (one month) | $18-$30 |
| Vaginal contraceptive ring | $15-$30 per ring (1 ring = 1 month) |
| Hormonal IUD (device only; insertion fee separate) | $300-$400 per device (lasts 3-8 years depending on type) |
| Copper IUD (device only; insertion fee separate) | $80-$150 per device (lasts 5-10 years) |
| Subdermal contraceptive implant (device only; insertion separate) | $280-$340 (lasts 3 years) |
| Injectable contraceptive (every 3 months) | $30-$45 per injection |
IUD insertion is typically covered by your provincial health plan if performed by a publicly funded provider; the device itself is what you pay out of pocket if you don't have drug coverage.
Emergency contraception#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Over-the-counter morning-after pill | $15-$45 |
| Prescription morning-after pill | $25-$50 |
STI treatment#
Most courses of STI antibiotics are short (single dose to one week) and inexpensive:
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Single-dose oral antibiotic for gonorrhea | $1-$5 |
| One-week oral antibiotic for chlamydia (twice daily) | $5-$15 |
| Single-dose oral antibiotic for trichomoniasis | $2-$5 |
| Course of oral antibiotic for bacterial vaginosis | $5-$20 |
| Antiviral medication for genital herpes (5-day acute course) | $5-$30 |
| Antiviral medication for cold sores (single-day acute course) | $5-$30 |
| Antiviral medication for herpes suppression (ongoing) | $15-$30 per month |
HPV vaccination#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| HPV vaccine (per dose; standard adult series is 3 doses) | $160-$220 per dose, so $480-$660 for the series if paying out of pocket |
Many provinces offer the HPV vaccine free of charge through school-based programs and some adult catch-up programs. Check with your local public health unit.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Short oral antibiotic course (3-7 days, for uncomplicated UTI) | $5-$25 |
| Single-dose oral antibiotic option for uncomplicated UTI | $10-$25 |
| Longer course for complicated or upper-tract infection | $15-$60 |
Erectile dysfunction#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Generic oral medication (per tablet, on-demand use) | $3-$8 per tablet |
| Brand-name oral medication (per tablet, on-demand use) | $10-$20 per tablet |
| Daily low-dose generic option | $40-$100 per month |
Prices fall noticeably when you buy a larger quantity at once.
Hair loss (male and female pattern)#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Oral generic medication for male pattern hair loss | $25-$45 per month |
| Compounded topical solution (combination product, ongoing) | $130-$300 per 100 mL bottle (typically 2-3 month supply) |
| Topical 5% solution for women | $30-$60 per month |
Weight management (GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 medications)#
These are injectable medications taken weekly (or, in one case, as a daily tablet). Pricing depends heavily on the dose and the specific product, and changes frequently. Out-of-pocket ranges are typically:
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Weekly injection - lower doses (introductory months) | $260-$330 per 4 weeks |
| Weekly injection - higher doses | $430-$580 per 4 weeks |
| Daily tablet alternative | $240-$260 per 30 days |
| Daily injection options (older class) | $230-$510 per month, depending on dose |
These prices are most often paid out of pocket because public drug plans do not cover them for weight management. Some private and workplace plans do cover them, sometimes with a manufacturer copay card. Patient-support programs from the manufacturers can substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost for people without drug coverage - ask the pharmacist or check with your prescribing clinician.
Allergy#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Epinephrine auto-injector (each device; sold in 2-packs) | $100-$130 per device |
Smoking cessation#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Oral non-nicotine medication for smoking cessation | $40-$80 per month |
| Nicotine replacement pouches, gum, patches, lozenges (OTC) | $30-$70 per week, depending on use |
Many provinces offer free or subsidized smoking-cessation programs through public health and pharmacy-led programs (for example, the STOP program in Ontario). Ask your pharmacist.
Period delay#
| Category | Typical out-of-pocket range |
|---|---|
| Short course of progesterone tablets | $5-$25 for the course |
Common questions#
Why do prices vary so much between pharmacies?#
Three things vary: the dispensing fee (typically $9-$13 per prescription, but as low as $4-$5 at warehouse pharmacies and some independents), the markup the pharmacy adds to the wholesale drug cost, and whether the pharmacy stocks the generic at the lowest price. For a regular monthly prescription, the difference between a low-fee, low-markup pharmacy and a higher-cost chain can add up to several hundred dollars a year.
How can I find the cheapest pharmacy near me?#
Phone two or three pharmacies near you and ask: "What is the out-of-pocket price for [the medication name] at [the prescribed dose and quantity]?" Pharmacies will quote you over the phone. Warehouse pharmacies and many independents are usually noticeably cheaper than the big chains for generic medications. The savings are largest for ongoing prescriptions.
Will the generic work as well as the brand?#
In most cases, yes. Health Canada requires generics to deliver the same active ingredient at the same dose with bioequivalence to the brand-name product. There are a small number of medications where switching between brand and generic can matter (some thyroid medications, some seizure medications), and your clinician will flag those.
What if I can't afford the medication my clinician recommended?#
Tell your clinician. There is almost always a less expensive alternative in the same category, or a patient-support program from the manufacturer. Your TeleTest clinician can switch the prescription to a cheaper option if it is clinically appropriate.
Can TeleTest fill my prescription directly?#
We do not run a pharmacy. Your TeleTest prescription is sent to the pharmacy of your choice, and you fill it the same way you would fill any other prescription. For patients in Ontario, we work with a home-delivery pharmacy partner (Pace Pharmacy) that some patients prefer; this is one option among many and not the default. We still encourage price-shopping for high-cost ongoing medications.
How are kits and home tests delivered?#
For at-home self-collection kits (for example, certain STI swabs and stool tests), TeleTest ships using Amazon's delivery network. You receive a tracking number and can usually return the completed kit to the lab the same way you would drop off any lab sample.
Why is my prescription dispensed in monthly amounts?#
How a prescription is written controls how it is dispensed. For most ongoing medications, prescriptions are written for a 1-3 month supply with repeats. For higher-cost newer medications (for example, weight-management injectables), prescriptions are typically dispensed monthly so the dose can be adjusted before refilling the next month. Birth control prescriptions written as a three-month pack with three refills will dispense as one three-month pack at a time. If you'd prefer a different fill quantity for cost or convenience reasons, ask your pharmacist or your TeleTest clinician.
What about Health Canada-approved private (uninsured) lab tests?#
That is a separate topic - see the lab testing and your plan section of our Private and third-party insurance page.
Related pages#
Request a TeleTest consultation#
Last reviewed: Spring 2026. Reviewed by Dr. Mohan Pandit, Chief Medical Officer at TeleTest. We review this page periodically as medical guidelines, lab practices, and provincial programs evolve. This page is for general information, not personal medical advice. Prices change frequently and the ranges above are estimates only. If you've noticed information that may be out of date or have suggestions, please contact us - we appreciate the help keeping these resources accurate.