GLP-1 Cost Calculator
Estimate what Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound costs you per month and per year in the US, across list price, self-pay programs and insurance. Then see the one thing that protects the investment.
$299 to $449/month by dose via LillyDirect, if you refill within 45 days.
Protect your $5,388 investment
of rapid weight loss can be muscle, not fat, when protein intake is low: a slower metabolism and easier regain.
Get your daily protein number with the free GLP-1 protein calculator, then hit it every day with Protein Pal.
Pricing disclaimer: Figures are estimates from manufacturer published pricing as of September 2026 and change frequently. Eligibility rules apply to savings offers and self-pay programs; government program beneficiaries are typically excluded. This page is not medical or financial advice. Confirm current pricing with NovoCare, LillyDirect, your pharmacy or your insurer.
What GLP-1 Therapy Actually Costs in the US
Prices checked September 2026 against the manufacturers' published price guides (NovoCare for Novo Nordisk, LillyDirect for Eli Lilly). Programs change often, so treat these as starting points and edit the calculator to match your bill.
| Medication | List price / month | Manufacturer self-pay / month | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic (semaglutide) | $998 | $349 to $499 by dose | NovoCare |
| Wegovy (semaglutide) | $1,349 | $349 to $399 by dose | NovoCare |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | $1,069 | No program yet | Lilly pricing |
| Zepbound (tirzepatide) | $1,086 | $299 to $449 by dose | LillyDirect |
Want the numbers for one medication? Use the dedicated Ozempic cost calculator, Wegovy cost calculator, Mounjaro cost calculator or Zepbound cost calculator.
Three things worth knowing:
- The self-pay programs are the cheapest legal route to brand name product if insurance does not cover you. Zepbound's LillyDirect price requires refilling within 45 days of the previous order, or higher prices apply.
- Savings cards work differently: with eligible commercial insurance, copays can drop as low as $25 per month. Government program beneficiaries (Medicare, Medicaid) are excluded from manufacturer self-pay offers.
- Cash-pay purchases do not count toward insurance deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums.
The Part of the Investment Nobody Budgets For
A year of GLP-1 therapy costs somewhere between $4,200 (self-pay direct) and $16,200 (list price). That money buys weight loss, but it does not choose what kind of weight you lose. Studies of rapid weight loss show that without enough protein and resistance exercise, roughly a quarter of the loss can be lean mass rather than fat.
That matters financially, not just cosmetically. Muscle is what keeps your metabolism up; losing it makes regain more likely after you stop paying for the medication. Weight that comes back means the money bought a temporary result.
The protection is close to free:
- Hit a daily protein floor of 0.54g per lb of body weight (1.2g/kg), in line with 2025 medical society guidance of 0.54 to 0.73g/lb for people on GLP-1 medications. Our GLP-1 protein calculator gives you your exact number in seconds, with drug specific versions for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
- Add resistance training; our strength training on GLP-1s guide shows how to start simple.
- Track the number daily. On a suppressed appetite you will not hit your protein floor by accident. The Protein Pal app has a GLP-1 mode that sets this same floor and makes logging each meal a job of seconds. Free to download on iOS and Android.
For the research behind the protein numbers, read how much protein you need on Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro and how to prevent muscle loss on GLP-1s.