Price Transparency Report

Why does the same pill cost wildly different prices?

Three hidden factors drive the price you pay: the drug's base cost, the pharmacy's markup percentage, and the dispensing fee.

12014%

Avg price variation

$88.18

Avg savings possible

$2,644.44

Biggest price gap

$1,058.21

Potential annual savings

The anatomy of a drug price

Every prescription price is made up of three components. Understanding them is the key to saving money.

1. Drug Cost

The base cost of the medication itself. This is set by the manufacturer and is usually the same everywhere. Generic drugs can cost 80-90% less than brand-name equivalents.

Typically 40-70% of total price

2. Pharmacy Markup

A percentage the pharmacy adds on top of the drug cost. This varies dramatically: Costco charges ~0% while others charge up to 12%. This is where comparison shopping pays off.

0-12% — the most variable component

3. Dispensing Fee

A flat fee the pharmacist charges to fill your prescription. This is the single biggest reason prices differ. Ranges from $0.00 to $11.99.

$0.00 – $11.99 per fill

The dispensing fee gap

This flat fee is charged every time you fill a prescription — and it varies by up to 3x between chains.

Average Dispensing Fee by Chain

Average Markup by Chain

Key insight

On average, Jan Aushadhi Kendra - Agra is the cheapest chain ($1.58 avg) while CVS Pharmacy - Albuquerque is the most expensive ($73.68 avg). That's a $72.10 difference on a typical prescription.