Key takeaways
Azithromycin costs about $78 for a five-day course without insurance.
Medicare, Medicaid, and many insurance plans usually cover azithromycin.
Discount coupons, pharmacy price shopping, and community resources can help lower the cost.
Azithromycin is a generic macrolide antibiotic that treats a variety of bacterial infections, including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, strep throat, ear infections, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and others. Dosage, format, and treatment duration vary, but most people take azithromycin as a tablet for only a few days. However, azithromycin costs more without insurance than some other common antibiotics, so it helps to know a few savings tips before filling a prescription.
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Is azithromycin covered by insurance?
Azithromycin is covered by commercial health insurance plans, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.
How much does azithromycin cost without insurance?
The azithromycin 250 mg price without insurance is $78 for six tablets (five days of treatment). That works out to about $13 per tablet. Health insurance can help reduce that cost, but actual out-of-pocket costs will depend on the dose prescribed, duration of treatment, and whether a deductible has been met.
Azithromycin is the generic version of Zithromax, a higher-priced drug. It’s one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, sold as a Zithromax Z-Pak (6, 250 mg tablets) for five days of treatment or a Zithromax Tri-Pak for three days. The Zithromax Z-pak cost without insurance is about $48 per 6-tablet pack.
If necessary, and if a doctor approves, other common, low-cost generic antibiotics may substitute for azithromycin. This may include penicillin antibiotics (such as amoxicillin), cephalosporins, tetracyclines, lincosamides, or fluoroquinolones. However, healthcare professionals use well-established guidelines to determine the most appropriate and effective drug based on the pathogen and its antibiotic resistance. In many cases, azithromycin may be the best treatment. If an azithromycin prescription is too hard to pay for, ask a healthcare professional for medical advice about other antibiotics.
Some over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements can help temporarily relieve symptoms of a bacterial infection, but they are not effective at fighting off the infection.
Compare azithromycin prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance for brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Azithromycin | $78 per 6, 250 mg tablets | $6 per 6, 250 mg tablets of generic azithromycin at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Brand-name azithromycin (Zithromax) | $48 per 6, 250 mg tablets | $15 per 6, 250 mg tablets of brand-name Zithromax at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Clarithromycin | $149 per 28, 500 mg tablets | $23 per 28, 500 mg tablets of generic clarithromycin at Walmart | See latest prices |
| Erythromycin | $127 per 6, 500 mg tablets | $47 per 6, 500 mg tablets of generic erythromycin at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Amoxicillin | $19 per 21, 500 mg capsules of generic amoxicillin | $3 per 21, 500 mg capsules of generic amoxicillin at Walmart | See latest prices |
How to get azithromycin without insurance
Prescription medications can be expensive without insurance, but azithromycin is usually a lower-cost generic antibiotic. It is also often prescribed as a short course, which can help keep the total cost lower than longer-term medications.
Because azithromycin is generic, it typically does not have manufacturer coupons, copay cards, or patient assistance programs. Still, there are several ways to reduce the cost of azithromycin without insurance.
1. Start by getting a SingleCare savings card
A SingleCare savings card can help lower the cost of azithromycin without insurance. For example, an azithromycin prescription may cost as low as $6 for 6, 250 mg tablets or $5 for 3, 500 mg tablets at Kroger with a SingleCare coupon.
To save, choose a coupon based on the pharmacy and the discount price on the azithromycin coupon page. You can print the coupon, save it to your phone, or email it to yourself. SingleCare is free to use and available to everyone.
2. Compare pharmacy prices
Azithromycin prices can vary by pharmacy. For example, a five-day supply may cost $24 at one pharmacy and $39 at another. Comparing prices before filling your prescription can help you find the lowest available price.
3. Visit a community health clinic
If azithromycin is still hard to afford, contact a community health clinic. Some clinics may offer low-cost medications or connect you with local programs that provide free or reduced-cost prescriptions. City or county health departments can help you find community clinics near you.
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The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Jul. 6, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our coupon page for updated drug prices at pharmacies near you.
- Azithromycin tablet drug information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine) (2023)
- Cardiovascular risks with azithromycin and other antibacterial drugs, The New England Journal of Medicine (2013)
- How the Z-Pak took over outpatient medicine, NEJM Group (2025)
- Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice.
- Evidence-based: Our content is sourced from reputable U.S.-based healthcare professionals and peer-reviewed research.
- Trustworthy: All of SingleCare’s content goes through a multi-phase review process by our writers, editors, and Medical Board in order to provide clear and credible information.