Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide Cost: Complete Price Comparison
Everything you need to know about tirzepatide and semaglutide costs—brand-name, compounded, with insurance, and the cheapest options.
Quick Price Comparison
| Option | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Brand-Name (No Insurance) | $1,000-$1,350/mo | $1,000-$1,350/mo |
| With Insurance (Average) | $25-$300/mo | $25-$300/mo |
| Compounded (Most Expensive) | $279-$599/mo | $399-$799/mo |
| Compounded (Best Value) | $99/mo (all doses) | $99/mo (all doses) |
Brand-Name Medication Costs
Let's break down the costs for FDA-approved brand-name medications:
Semaglutide Brand-Name Options
Ozempic (For Type 2 Diabetes)
- List price: $935-$1,000/month (4-week supply)
- With insurance: $25-$100/month (if covered)
- Novo Nordisk savings card: Reduces out-of-pocket to $25/month (with commercial insurance, diabetes diagnosis)
- Coverage: Usually covered for diabetes, rarely for weight loss alone
Wegovy (For Weight Loss)
- List price: $1,350/month (4-week supply)
- With insurance: $25-$300/month (if covered)
- WeGoTogether savings program: Reduces to $0-$225/month (with commercial insurance)
- Coverage: Inconsistent—many insurers don't cover weight loss medications
⚠️ INSURANCE REALITY CHECK:
Most commercial insurance plans cover Ozempic for diabetes but NOT for weight loss. Wegovy coverage is spotty—only about 40% of plans cover it, and many require prior authorization, step therapy, or have high copays.
Tirzepatide Brand-Name Options
Mounjaro (For Type 2 Diabetes)
- List price: $1,000-$1,100/month (4-week supply)
- With insurance: $25-$100/month (if covered)
- Eli Lilly savings card: Reduces to $25/month (with commercial insurance, diabetes diagnosis)
- Coverage: Well-covered for diabetes, not for weight loss
Zepbound (For Weight Loss)
- List price: $1,060/month (4-week supply)
- With insurance: $25-$300/month (if covered)
- Zepbound savings card: Reduces to $550/month (with commercial insurance) or $25/month for first year (eligibility restrictions apply)
- Coverage: Better than Wegovy but still inconsistent
💡 COST VERDICT: BRAND-NAME TIE
Brand-name tirzepatide and semaglutide cost essentially the same without insurance ($1,000-$1,350/month). With insurance, costs are similar ($25-$300/month) but depend entirely on your specific plan coverage.
Compounded Medication Costs
Compounded versions are significantly cheaper but prices vary wildly by provider:
Compounded Semaglutide Pricing
| Provider | Starting Doses | Max Dose |
|---|---|---|
| CoreAge RX | $99/mo | $99/mo |
| Hims/Hers | $199/mo | $399/mo |
| Ro | $249/mo | $399/mo |
| Mochi Health | $279/mo | $429/mo |
| Henry Meds | $297/mo | $597/mo |
Annual cost difference: CoreAge RX ($1,188/year) vs most expensive option ($7,164/year) = $5,976 savings per year
Compounded Tirzepatide Pricing
| Provider | Starting Doses | Max Dose (15mg) |
|---|---|---|
| CoreAge RX | $99/mo | $99/mo |
| Hims/Hers | $299/mo | $549/mo |
| Ro | $349/mo | $699/mo |
| Mochi Health | $399/mo | $599/mo |
| Henry Meds | $450/mo | $799/mo |
Annual cost difference: CoreAge RX ($1,188/year) vs most expensive option ($9,588/year) = $8,400 savings per year
💰 COST VERDICT: TIRZEPATIDE IS MORE EXPENSIVE
Across all compounded providers, tirzepatide costs 20-40% more than semaglutide at equivalent doses. Exception: CoreAge RX charges the same price ($99/month) for both medications regardless of dose.
Total Cost Over Time: 1-Year Treatment
Let's compare total annual costs for someone going from starting dose to max dose:
Semaglutide - 12 Month Total Cost
| Option | Year 1 Total | Ongoing (Year 2+) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand (No Insurance) | $12,000-$16,200 | $16,200/year |
| Brand (With Good Insurance) | $300-$1,200 | $300-$1,200/year |
| Compounded (Most Providers) | $3,348-$7,164 | $5,148-$7,164/year |
| CoreAge RX (Compounded) | $1,188 | $1,188/year |
Tirzepatide - 12 Month Total Cost
| Option | Year 1 Total | Ongoing (Year 2+) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand (No Insurance) | $12,000-$16,200 | $16,200/year |
| Brand (With Good Insurance) | $300-$1,200 | $300-$1,200/year |
| Compounded (Most Providers) | $4,788-$9,588 | $7,188-$9,588/year |
| CoreAge RX (Compounded) | $1,188 | $1,188/year |
Which Is Cheaper: Tirzepatide or Semaglutide?
Here's the bottom line on cost:
If You Have Insurance:
Same price (usually $25-$300/month). Both medications have similar insurance coverage and copay structures. Your specific copay depends on your insurance plan, not which medication you choose.
If Paying Cash for Brand-Name:
Same price ($1,000-$1,350/month). Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly price their medications similarly.
If Buying Compounded from Most Providers:
Semaglutide is 20-40% cheaper.
- Semaglutide: $279-$597/month
- Tirzepatide: $399-$799/month
- Annual difference: $1,440-$2,424 more for tirzepatide
If Using CoreAge RX:
Exactly the same price ($99/month for either medication, all doses).
This is the only provider that charges the same flat rate regardless of medication type or dose level. Most people save $2,000-$8,000/year compared to other compounded providers.
Get Semaglutide OR Tirzepatide for the Same Low Price
At CoreAge RX, you pay the same price whether you choose semaglutide or tirzepatide—and the price never increases as your dose goes up.
What You Get:
- ✓ Your choice: Premium compounded semaglutide OR tirzepatide
- ✓ One flat price: $99/month (all doses, both medications)
- ✓ Medical consultation & prescription included
- ✓ Ongoing provider support via telehealth
- ✓ Free shipping directly to your door
- ✓ Save $2,000-$8,000/year vs other compounded providers
💰 ANNUAL SAVINGS EXAMPLES:
- vs Hims/Hers: Save $3,588-$6,000/year
- vs Ro: Save $3,000-$7,200/year
- vs Mochi Health: Save $2,160-$6,000/year
- vs Henry Meds: Save $2,532-$8,400/year
Takes 5 minutes. Choose semaglutide or tirzepatide. Same low price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is tirzepatide more expensive than semaglutide?
Tirzepatide is a newer medication (approved 2022 vs 2017 for semaglutide) and is dual-acting (GLP-1 + GIP), making it more complex and expensive to manufacture. Compounding pharmacies pass these higher costs to consumers. However, some providers like CoreAge RX absorb the cost difference and charge the same price for both.
Is tirzepatide worth the extra cost?
Clinical trials show tirzepatide produces 20-25% weight loss vs 15-18% for semaglutide—about 20-30% better results. Whether that's worth paying 40% more depends on your budget. If using CoreAge RX where both cost the same, tirzepatide is the obvious choice for maximum results.
Can I switch from semaglutide to tirzepatide mid-treatment?
Yes. Many people start with semaglutide (cheaper, easier to get) and switch to tirzepatide if they hit a plateau or want better results. Your provider can guide the transition. With CoreAge RX, there's no cost penalty for switching since both medications are $99/month.
Are compounded medications safe?
Yes, when sourced from FDA-registered 503B compounding pharmacies. These pharmacies meet strict quality standards. The active ingredients (semaglutide, tirzepatide) are the same as brand-name versions—what differs is the manufacturer and inactive ingredients.
Will insurance cover compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?
No. Compounded medications are not covered by insurance since they're not FDA-approved drugs (the active ingredient is FDA-approved, but the compounded product is not). You must pay cash. However, at $99-$599/month, compounded versions are often cheaper than insurance copays for brand-name medications.