Prescription drug prices continue to be a sore spot for many Americans. Cost-conscious shoppers know to look beyond their health insurance plan's rates to compare prices at different pharmacies, but that only goes so far. And, just like the cost of living, the cost of prescriptions varies from one city to another–but just because you live in a more expensive city does not mean you'll pay more for your medications.
GoodRx researchers recently broke down drug prices across the country, focusing on the 500 most commonly prescribed drugs in 30 cities. While in some cases higher prices correlated to a higher cost of living (sorry, Californians), other factors appear to have an impact. For instance, Atlantans and Denverites both have a higher costs of living but pay less on average for medications.
The researchers also noted the "big-box effect," wherein retailers like Walmart or Costco offer many common generics at steep discounts. Consumers in some cities have easier access to these options than others.
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
