Mounjaro costs $499 a month without insurance[1]. That is LillyDirect’s self-pay price for the single-dose pen[1]. It is the same at every dose, from 2.5 mg to 15 mg[1].
Mounjaro is Lilly's tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes. A year at that price is $5,988. Lilly adds that taxes and fees may apply[1]. Every maker’s price is side by side in GLP-1 cost without insurance.
What a month holds
The pen carton holds 4 single-dose pens[3]. One pen is one weekly dose[3]. Lilly’s card terms define a month as 28 days and up to 4 pens[2].
The label also lists a multi-dose vial and a KwikPen, each holding 4 weekly doses[3]. The self-pay price above is for the single-dose pen[1].
The label starts at 2.5 mg weekly[3]. Steps rise by 2.5 mg after at least 4 weeks[3]. Because every dose costs the same, the step does not change the bill.
With insurance: the savings card
| Your coverage | Pay as little as | Savings cap |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial plan that covers Mounjaro | $25 per 1-, 2- or 3-month fill | $150 a month, $1,950 a year |
| Commercial plan that does not cover it | $499 per 1-month fill | $647 a month, $8,411 a year |
| Medicare, Medicaid or other government plan | Not eligible | None |
With coverage, you may pay as little as $25 for up to a 3-month fill[2]. The card works for up to 13 fills a year[2].
Without coverage on a commercial plan, the floor is $499[2]. That is the same as the self-pay price. The card excludes anyone in a state or federal program, including Medicare and Medicaid[2].
Whether a plan pays at all is covered in the insurance guide.
Mounjaro or Zepbound
Both are tirzepatide. Mounjaro’s label covers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes[3]. It also covers heart risk in that group[3]. Weight loss is not on it.
Zepbound is the weight-loss label. Its self-pay month starts at $299[4]. At 15 mg it is $449 with on-time refills[4]. The full ladder is in Zepbound price.
Against compounded tirzepatide
$499
Mounjaro self-pay, any dose, per month
Source: LillyDirect
$449
Zepbound self-pay, 15 mg, per 28 days
Source: LillyDirect
$249
Typical compounded tirzepatide month (361 sellers)
Mounjaro costs $50 more than Zepbound at the top dose, refilled on time. The compounded median is $250 below Mounjaro. Seller prices were read through September 2026.
Before paying
- Is the prescription for diabetes, or for weight?
- Does your plan cover Mounjaro, or only Zepbound?
- Will the card still run after December 31, 2026?
- Who supplies needles if you use a vial?