500mg · 21-count · Antibiotics · Brand: Keflex · Generic available
| Pharmacy | Cash Price | Per-30-Day Equiv. |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Cheapest | $3.70 | $5.29 |
| Walmart | $4.00 | $5.71 |
| Kroger | $4.50 | $6.43 |
| Target | $5.00 | $7.14 |
| Rite Aid | $13.50 | $19.29 |
| CVS | $13.99 | $19.99 |
| Walgreens | $14.50 | $20.71 |
Cephalexin is a prescription antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It is sold under the brand name Keflex and is available as the generic Cephalexin. A standard supply is 21 500mg.
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 significantly more.
Antibiotics are typically short-course prescriptions. Most common antibiotics are available as generics at very low cash prices — many are on Walmart's $4 generic program.
Cephalexin belongs to a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics (first-generation). It's prescribed for a range of bacterial infections and, like other antibiotics on this list, is meant to be taken for a defined short course rather than ongoing use — finishing the full course as prescribed, even if you feel better early, is part of standard antibiotic use and not specific to cost. Because it's a first-generation cephalosporin, it covers a narrower range of bacteria than some newer antibiotic classes, which is generally viewed as an advantage rather than a limitation — narrower-spectrum antibiotics are associated with less disruption to the body's normal bacterial balance when a narrow-spectrum option is appropriate for the infection being treated.
Shop around. The cheapest pharmacy (Costco at $3.70) charges significantly less than the most expensive option ($14.50). A quick call can save you real money.
Ask for the generic. If your doctor prescribed the brand-name Keflex, ask your pharmacist whether the generic Cephalexin 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 GoodRx low for Cephalexin is around $3.20.
Cephalexin has been a generic antibiotic for decades with no manufacturer copay card — the price differences you see reflect pharmacy-to-pharmacy markup, not a brand-vs-generic gap.
Coverage depends on your specific plan and formulary. Most antibiotics medications 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 is essentially never required for cephalexin given its long-standing generic status and its role as a standard first-line antibiotic for many common infections.
Prices represent estimated retail cash prices for Cephalexin 500mg (21-count) as of 2026. Actual prices may vary. RxCostCheck does not collect or sell your health data. Learn more →
How much does Cephalexin cost without insurance?
Without insurance, Cephalexin 500mg (21-count) ranges from $3.70 at Costco to $14.50. With a GoodRx discount card, the price can be as low as $3.20.
Where is the cheapest place to fill Cephalexin?
Costco typically offers the lowest cash price at $3.70 for 21 500mg.
Is there a generic for Cephalexin?
Yes — the generic Cephalexin is available and bioequivalent to Keflex. Ask your pharmacist to dispense the generic to save money.
What if my insurance doesn't cover Cephalexin 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 Cephalexin 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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