0.5mg/2ml · 1-count · Respiratory · Brand: Pulmicort · Generic available
| Pharmacy | Cash Price | Per-30-Day Equiv. |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Cheapest | $4.22 | $4.22 |
| Walmart | $4.78 | $4.78 |
| Kroger | $5.41 | $5.41 |
| Target | $6.21 | $6.21 |
| Rite Aid | $17.12 | $17.12 |
| CVS | $17.91 | $17.91 |
| Walgreens | $19.11 | $19.11 |
The generic form of Budesonide Inhaler (Budesonide) contains the same active ingredient and is bioequivalent to the brand. Ask your pharmacist to dispense the generic — it works the same way, typically at a fraction of the brand-name cost.
Tip: In most states, pharmacists can substitute a generic unless your prescriber writes "dispense as written" (DAW).
Budesonide Inhaler (0.5mg/2ml) is sold under the brand name Pulmicort and the generic Budesonide. A standard supply tracked here is 1 unit at 0.5mg/2ml.
Pharmacy pricing is not regulated in the United States, so retailers set their own cash prices. Large retailers like Walmart and Costco typically offer lower prices on generics because they use prescriptions as a traffic driver. Chain pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens tend to charge more for the same medication.
Respiratory medications are time-sensitive to refill — running out is a health risk, so compare prices before your current supply runs low.
Budesonide Inhaler belongs to a class of medications called inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Unlike a rescue inhaler, it's a maintenance medication meant to be used daily to reduce airway inflammation over time, and it doesn't provide immediate relief during a sudden asthma or COPD flare-up — which is why patients are often prescribed both a maintenance inhaled steroid and a separate rescue inhaler for different situations.
Shop around. The cheapest pharmacy tracked here (Costco at $4.22) charges meaningfully less than the most expensive option ($19.11). A quick call can save real money.
Ask for the generic. If your doctor prescribed the brand-name Pulmicort, ask your pharmacist whether a generic is available. In most states, pharmacists can substitute a generic unless the prescriber writes "dispense as written."
Use a discount card. Services like GoodRx, SingleCare, and WellRx can sometimes negotiate prices lower than retail cash. The estimated low price for Budesonide Inhaler is around $3.67.
Generic budesonide inhalation suspension has narrowed the price gap with the original brand considerably, and copay-card programs for this specific product are less prominent than for newer combination respiratory inhalers still under patent — check with your pharmacist whether the generic is being dispensed, since that alone often explains most of the price difference you'd see.
Coverage depends on your specific plan and formulary. Most medications in this category are covered under standard health insurance, typically in Tier 1 or Tier 2. If your copay is higher than the cash price above, it may be cheaper to pay out of pocket — ask your pharmacist to compare. Prior authorization requirements vary by plan for inhaled corticosteroids — insurers are more likely to require it for higher-cost combination inhalers than for a single-ingredient inhaled steroid like this one, but it's worth confirming with your specific formulary.
Prices shown are estimated retail cash prices modeled from CMS's public NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) dataset, cross-referenced against typical major-chain retail markups. Actual prices vary by location and change frequently. RxCostCheck does not collect or sell your health data. Learn more →
How much does Budesonide Inhaler cost without insurance?
Without insurance, Budesonide Inhaler (0.5mg/2ml) ranges from $4.22 at Costco to $19.11 at Walgreens. With a discount card, the price can be as low as $3.67.
Where is the cheapest place to fill Budesonide Inhaler?
Costco typically offers the lowest estimated cash price at $4.22 for 1 0.5mg/2ml.
Is there a generic for Budesonide Inhaler?
Yes — the generic Budesonide is available and bioequivalent to Pulmicort. Ask your pharmacist to dispense the generic to save money.
What if my insurance doesn't cover Budesonide Inhaler at all?
Ask your prescriber whether a covered therapeutic alternative in the same drug class exists, or ask your pharmacist about a formulary exception or medical-necessity appeal — some plans will cover an otherwise-excluded drug once that documentation is on file. In the meantime, the cash and discount-card pricing shown above is usually the fastest fallback.
Does a 90-day supply of Budesonide Inhaler cost less than three 30-day fills?
Often, yes — many pharmacies and insurance plans price a 90-day fill at a lower effective per-dose cost than separate 30-day fills, and some mail-order pharmacy benefits are built specifically around 90-day supplies. Ask your pharmacist or insurer whether a 90-day option is available for this medication before assuming the count shown above is your only choice.
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