Bacterial infections: Medication Cost, US vs UK
Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics across several families. They treat bacterial infections only — never viral ones — and most common oral antibiotics are low-cost generics in Medicare Part D.
How much do antibiotic medications cost in the US vs the UK?
Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics across several families. They treat bacterial infections only — never viral ones — and most common oral antibiotics are low-cost generics in Medicare Part D. On average US Medicare Part D spend per dose (calendar year 2024, CMS), the options range from $0.1532 (Amoxicillin) to $0.9479 (Nitrofurantoin Mono-Macro); the most-prescribed is Amoxicillin at $0.1532. In England, an NHS patient pays a flat £9.90 per item for any of them (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026)). The two figures are different measures and are not converted. Information only — not medical advice.
Not medical advice. The figures on this page are drawn unchanged from public government datasets for general information only. They are not price quotes and not a substitute for professional advice. What you actually pay depends on your country, pharmacy, insurance, manufacturer, dose and region. Never start, stop or switch a medication on cost grounds without a licensed pharmacist or clinician.
The US figure is Medicare Part D PROGRAM spending per dosage unit (in US dollars), not a cash price; the UK figure is the patient's flat NHS charge per item (in pounds). They measure different things in different currencies and are shown side by side, never converted into one another.
Cheapest by US spend
Amoxicillin
$0.1532 avg Medicare Part D spend per dose
Priciest by US spend
Nitrofurantoin Mono-Macro
$0.9479 avg Medicare Part D spend per dose
| Drug | US per dose | England patient | 2024 US claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | $0.1532 | £9.90 | 9,463,530 |
| Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim | $0.2503 | £9.90 | 4,744,115 |
| Cephalexin | $0.317 | £9.90 | 7,489,860 |
| Doxycycline Hyclate | $0.4852 | £9.90 | 6,667,052 |
| Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Potass | $0.516 | £9.90 | 7,719,905 |
| Ciprofloxacin HCl | $0.5535 | £9.90 | 4,856,922 |
| Azithromycin | $0.7037 | £9.90 | 8,784,697 |
| Nitrofurantoin Mono-Macro | $0.9479 | £9.90 | 4,188,017 |
In England, every one of these costs the patient the same £9.90 per item — capped by a £114.50/year Prepayment Certificate and free with an exemption (and free outright in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Compare an individual medicine
- Amoxicillin — alternatives$0.1532 →
- Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim — alternatives$0.2503 →
- Cephalexin — alternatives$0.317 →
- Doxycycline Hyclate — alternatives$0.4852 →
- Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Potass — alternatives$0.516 →
- Ciprofloxacin HCl — alternatives$0.5535 →
- Azithromycin — alternatives$0.7037 →
- Nitrofurantoin Mono-Macro — alternatives$0.9479 →
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cheapest medication for bacterial infections?
- By average US Medicare Part D spend per dose (calendar year 2024), the lowest-cost option among the antibiotic medications listed here is Amoxicillin at $0.1532. That is a cost figure only — the right medicine for you is a clinical decision.
- What does treating bacterial infections cost on the NHS in England?
- In England, an NHS patient pays a flat £9.90 per dispensed prescription item (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026), frozen) — the same charge for any drug, whatever it costs the NHS — or nothing at all with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (£114.50/year cap, worth it above 11 items/year) or an exemption. NHS prescriptions are free outright in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Why such a wide US cost range for bacterial infections?
- Because the medicines used span older low-cost generics and newer branded drugs. The cheapest (Amoxicillin, $0.1532/dose) and priciest (Nitrofurantoin Mono-Macro, $0.9479/dose) here differ on the US per-dose measure — yet in England the patient pays the same £9.90 for either.
Talk to a clinician about bacterial infections
A GeraClinic clinician can review your treatment, explain lower-cost options where clinically appropriate, and issue or renew a prescription online — without travelling to a clinic.
Contains public sector information published by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and licensed under the U.S. Government Works / Public Domain. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug (calendar year 2024, published 2026-06-25).
Contains public sector information published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), NHS England & DHSC and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS prescription charges (England) — NHSBSA / NHS England / DHSC (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026), published 2026-04-01).