When it comes to prescription drug prices, the United States consistently ranks as the most expensive place to fill a prescription.
Despite efforts to rein in costs, Americans still pay dramatically more than their counterparts in other developed nations.
Here’s a look at how the numbers break down, using the latest data from 2025.
Overall Price Gap
According to a 2024 RAND Corporation study, U.S. drug prices are, on average, 2.78 times higher than those in 33 other high-income countries. For brand-name drugs, that gap jumps to 4.22 times higher, highlighting the stark difference in pharmaceutical pricing.
Diabetes Medications
Take the popular diabetes drug Ozempic (semaglutide) as an example. In the U.S., it costs roughly $936 per month, compared to just $169 in Japan, $147 in Canada, and $83 in France. This disparity has sparked debates over drug price controls and patent reform.
Insulin Pricing
Insulin remains one of the most glaring examples of U.S. drug pricing disparities. In the U.S., a vial of Humalog insulin can cost around $274, while the same vial is roughly $48 in Germany and just $14 in India. This pricing gap has driven some Americans to travel abroad for their prescriptions.
Cancer Drugs
Specialty drugs for conditions like cancer are among the most expensive globally. The leukemia drug Imbruvica costs about $14,580 per month in the U.S., while it sells for around $6,400 in the UK and $3,900 in Australia.
Cholesterol Medications
The cholesterol drug Repatha costs about $6,000 per year in the U.S., compared to $2,800 in Germany and $1,700 in Canada. These differences have made cholesterol management significantly more costly for American patients.
Arthritis Treatments
Rheumatoid arthritis treatments like Humira can cost over $84,000 annually in the U.S., compared to roughly $27,000 in the UK and $23,000 in Switzerland.
Asthma Inhalers
Asthma medications are another category with stark price differences. For example, a common inhaler like Advair costs around $250 per month in the U.S., but only about $20 in the UK.
EpiPen Pricing
The life-saving EpiPen, used for severe allergic reactions, costs roughly $700 for a two-pack in the U.S., while the same product is available for about $100 in Australia.
Mental Health Medications
Drugs like Abilify, used to treat conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, cost about $880 per month in the U.S., compared to $260 in Canada and $185 in Japan.
Policy Responses
In 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing U.S. drug prices by targeting intermediaries and encouraging direct price negotiations. However, even with these efforts, Medicare prices remain nearly three times higher than those in other developed countries. However, prediction markets give Trump a 22% chance of ending Medicare drug negotiation this year.
As the U.S. continues to grapple with high drug prices, these stark international disparities underscore the complex dynamics of pharmaceutical pricing and the challenges of reforming the system.
