Metformin Cost: How Cheap Is This Generic?
Metformin is among the cheapest diabetes medicines: the CMS survey of pharmacy acquisition costs puts a 500 mg tablet at about 0.015 dollars. Sixty tablets cost a pharmacy about $0.89. You will pay more than that at the counter, but it shows why generics are inexpensive.
What pharmacies pay (CMS NADAC)
The National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) is a weekly CMS survey of what retail pharmacies pay to buy drugs. These are the latest figures in the 2026 file (as of 2026-10-21).
| Product | Per tablet | 60 tablets |
|---|---|---|
| Metformin 500 mg tablet | $0.01 | $0.89 |
| Metformin 1,000 mg tablet | $0.02 | $1.40 |
These are rounded from three-decimal survey prices and are pharmacy purchase costs, not retail prices. Extended-release tablets cost more per tablet in the same survey.
Savings programs and self-pay
There is no manufacturer savings card for generic metformin. Your cost depends on your plan’s generic tier, or on the pharmacy’s own cash price if you pay without insurance. Ask your pharmacist to compare the two. We do not list or link to discount sellers.
Medicare
Medicare Part D plans each have a formulary and cost-sharing; ask your plan. Other Medicare diabetes costs: test strips, insulin and CGMs.
Information only
This page is about price. Whether a medicine is right for you is a decision for you and your care team. Add what you pay to the supply cost calculator, and compare with GLP-1 medicine costs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does metformin cost?
Metformin is a low-cost generic. The federal NADAC survey of pharmacy acquisition costs shows about 0.0148 dollars per 500 mg tablet, so 60 tablets (two a day for 30 days) is about $0.89 at the pharmacy’s cost. That is what pharmacies pay, not the price you pay.
What is NADAC?
The National Average Drug Acquisition Cost is a CMS survey of what retail pharmacies pay to buy drugs. It is a useful sign of how cheap a generic is, but pharmacies add dispensing fees and margins, so your price will be higher.
Is there a manufacturer savings program?
Not for generic metformin; there is no brand to run one. Savings come from your plan’s generic tier or a pharmacy’s own cash price. Compare prices at your pharmacy.
Does Medicare cover metformin?
Medicare Part D plans set their own formularies. Ask your plan or pharmacist about your cost.
Information only, not medical advice. Your care team may set different targets for you, and only a lab test ordered by a clinician can diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. See our medical disclaimer.
Sources
- CMS: National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), 2026 file
- Medicare.gov: Medicare coverage of diabetes supplies, services and prevention programs (publication 11022)
Last reviewed: by the Diabetes Blogs editorial team. Information only, not medical advice.
