The U.S.-Canada Prescription Drug Price Gap Remains Far Too Wide

Americans continue to pay far too much for prescription medications. The Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation’s (CPPI) latest study shows just how significant the difference can be – and why access to licensed Canadian pharmacies remains important for consumers.

Our August 2026 Benchmark Prescription Drug Price Study compared 90-day prices for 10 commonly prescribed brand-name medications in the U.S. and Canada. The result: consumers could save an average of 65% by purchasing these medications from licensed Canadian pharmacies.

Even more concerning, several U.S. prices increased substantially since our March study, while Canadian pharmacy prices remained largely unchanged.

For example, the GoodRx cash price for a 90-day supply of Rybelsus 7mg increased from $2,904 in March to $3,042 in August. Because the Canadian price remained stable, potential savings increased from 60% to 74%.

The difference was even greater for Xifaxan. Amazon Pharmacy’s price increased from $11,233.90 to $12,346.05 during the same five-month period. With Canadian pricing unchanged, potential savings reached 79%.

These findings come as millions of Americans are already struggling with prescription costs. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that 59% of U.S. adults are worried about being able to afford their prescription drugs, the highest level KFF has recorded since it began tracking the question in 2018. Forty-three percent reported taking a cost-saving measure, including delaying prescriptions, skipping doses, or cutting pills – quite dangerous.

Those aren’t just statistics. They represent people forced to make difficult choices between medications and other necessities.

When patients skip doses or don't fill prescriptions because of cost, affordability becomes a public health issue – not simply a financial one.

CPPI believes Americans should have access to safe, legitimate and more affordable options for obtaining the medications they need. Our latest study shows that the U.S.-Canada price gap remains enormous – and in some cases is growing.

To see the complete results, view the full comparison chart. You can read our press release here, which also shows our methodology. (All registered trademarks referred to herein belong to their respective owners.) To learn more about personal prescription importation and join CPPI for free, visit www.PersonalImportation.org.