What affects the price?
1. Provider model
Subscription services (Juniper, Hub Health, Moshy) bundle consultations, medication delivery, and ongoing support into a monthly fee. The per-month cost appears higher but includes everything. Pay-per-consult services (Qoctor, InstantScripts) charge per consultation and issue an e-script — you then shop around at pharmacies for the best price.
For GLP-1 medications specifically, subscription models are often comparable or cheaper in total when you factor in consultation fees and pharmacy delivery charges.
2. Dose stage
GLP-1 medications cost less during dose escalation because you're using smaller doses. Wegovy and Mounjaro both start at their lowest dose and increase over 4–5 months. Your first few months will be cheaper than maintenance.
3. Pharmacy choice
If your provider issues an e-script (rather than bundling delivery), filling it at a discount pharmacy like Chemist Warehouse can be 10–15% cheaper than independent pharmacies.
4. PBS eligibility
Two scenarios where PBS pricing applies:
- Type 2 diabetes: Ozempic is PBS-subsidised at ~$41/script for diabetes (not weight loss)
- Wegovy PBS (pending): If listed, eligible patients (BMI ≥35 + CVD) would pay ~$31.60/script ($7.70 concession)
Cost per percentage point of weight lost
When you calculate the value — cost per percentage point of body weight lost — the picture shifts. The cheapest medications aren't necessarily the best value:
| Medication | Annual cost | Avg. % lost | Cost per 1% lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xenical | ~$1,000 | 4% | $250 |
| Duromine | ~$300 | 7.5% | $40 |
| Contrave | ~$3,600 | 7.5% | $480 |
| Mounjaro | ~$5,100 | 21% | $243 |
| Wegovy | ~$4,500 | 16% | $281 |
Duromine offers the best cost-per-percentage-point value — but only for 12 weeks. For long-term treatment, Mounjaro and Wegovy offer competitive value per percentage point despite their higher sticker price.
Ways to reduce costs
- Compare providers: Prices vary significantly. See the cheapest providers →
- Check PBS eligibility: If you have diabetes (Ozempic) or CVD + BMI ≥35 (Wegovy, when listed)
- Use discount pharmacies: If your provider issues e-scripts, fill at Chemist Warehouse
- Discuss dose reduction: Some patients maintain weight at a lower (cheaper) maintenance dose
- Start with Duromine: Use as a $300 kickstart before transitioning to a long-term option
- Private health insurance: Some extras policies offer partial rebates on consultation fees
Provider-by-provider pricing
For detailed pricing by provider for each medication: