Patient guide · Reviewed June 2026
The True Annual Cost of GLP-1 Therapy in Australia — A Full Breakdown
If you've only looked at the monthly price of Wegovy or Mounjaro, you're seeing a fraction of what a properly managed year of GLP-1 therapy actually costs. Here's the complete picture — consultations, pathology, imaging, and the medication itself — based on standard Australian pricing for 2026.
Published 2026-06-01 · Clinically reviewed 2026-06-03
Patient guide · Reviewed June 2026
Why the medication price alone is misleading
Most discussion of GLP-1 cost focuses entirely on the monthly pen price. But a responsibly managed treatment course involves several other recurring costs: an…
Most discussion of GLP-1 cost focuses entirely on the monthly pen price. But a responsibly managed treatment course involves several other recurring costs: an initial consultation and follow-ups, baseline and surveillance blood tests, a baseline liver ultrasound, and — for patients whose FIB-4 score indicates it — annual liver elastography. Leaving these out of the conversation means most people significantly underestimate what a full year of treatment actually involves.
The full annual breakdown
| Care phase | Component | Frequency | Unit cost (AUD) | Annualised cost (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiation | GP / specialist consultation | Baseline, Month 1, Month 3 | $80.00 – $180.00 | $240.00 – $540.00 |
| Diagnostics | Screening pathology (lipids, HbA1c, LFTs, platelets) | Baseline, Month 6 | $60.00 – $120.00 | $120.00 – $240.00 |
| Imaging | Baseline liver ultrasound (MAFLD screening) | Once at baseline | $150.00 – $250.00 | $150.00 – $250.00 |
| Therapy (low) | Wegovy subcutaneous (0.25 mg / 0.5 mg / 1.0 mg) | Monthly (4-dose pen) | $259.00 – $269.00 | $3,108.00 – $3,228.00 |
| Therapy (high) | Wegovy subcutaneous (1.7 mg / 2.4 mg) | Monthly (4-dose pen) | $389.00 | $4,668.00 |
| Therapy (max) | Mounjaro KwikPen, private (12.5 mg / 15.0 mg) | Monthly (4-dose pen) | $689.95 | $8,279.40 |
| Surveillance | FibroScan / transient elastography (if FIB-4 indeterminate) | Annually, if clinically indicated | $150.00 – $300.00 | $150.00 – $300.00 |
Patient guide · Reviewed June 2026
Two realistic annual totals
Lower-end pathway — GP-managed, Wegovy at a maintenance dose of 0.5 mg, plus standard labs and a baseline ultrasound: $3,618.00 – $4,258.00 per year
Lower-end pathway — GP-managed, Wegovy at a maintenance dose of 0.5 mg, plus standard labs and a baseline ultrasound: $3,618.00 – $4,258.00 per year
Higher-end pathway — GP-managed, Mounjaro at 15 mg maintenance dose, plus labs, baseline ultrasound, and an annual FibroScan: $8,939.40 – $9,669.40 per year
In other words, depending on which medication and dose you're on, and whether your monitoring pathway includes elastography, a full and properly managed year of GLP-1 therapy in Australia realistically costs somewhere between roughly $3,600 and just under $9,700.
Why this matters before you start
This isn't meant to discourage treatment — for many patients, the health benefits clearly justify the cost. But this is exactly the kind of financial reality that should be discussed openly with your prescriber before you start, not discovered gradually as the costs accumulate. A substantial ongoing financial commitment is one of the most commonly cited reasons patients discontinue GLP-1 therapy partway through — and going in with a clear, accurate picture of the full annual cost (not just the headline pen price) puts you in a much better position to plan for it, or to make an informed decision about which medication and dose level is sustainable for you long-term.
Patient guide · Reviewed June 2026
Where the monitoring costs fit into the bigger picture
It's worth noticing something in this breakdown: the diagnostic and monitoring components — consultations, pathology, baseline ultrasound, and even an annual…
It's worth noticing something in this breakdown: the diagnostic and monitoring components — consultations, pathology, baseline ultrasound, and even an annual FibroScan — collectively add up to somewhere between $510 and $1,330 a year, a relatively modest slice of the total cost compared with the medication itself. Put another way, proper monitoring is a small percentage addition to a cost you're already committing to by starting therapy — not a major extra expense layered on top of an otherwise cheap treatment.
What to ask your prescriber before starting
- What dose are you likely to need long-term, and what does that specific dose cost monthly (rather than the lowest starting-dose price often advertised)?
- Does your monitoring plan include a baseline liver ultrasound and FIB-4 assessment, and is that already factored into the quoted cost of your care?
- If your FIB-4 result comes back indeterminate, what would the next step (typically liver elastography) cost, and is that something to budget for in advance?
- Are there any ways to reduce consultation costs — bulk-billed options, telehealth versus in-person, or community health pathways — without compromising the quality of monitoring?
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Search by suburb or postcode to see accredited clinics offering FibroScan and guided liver elastography across Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Ozempic cost per year in Australia?
A fully managed year on Wegovy at maintenance dose ranges from roughly $3,600 to $4,700 including consultations and monitoring — higher for Mounjaro at top doses.
What is the true cost of Mounjaro in Australia?
At 15 mg maintenance with full monitoring, expect approximately $8,900–$9,700 per year privately.
Does GLP-1 monitoring add much to the total cost?
Monitoring (consultations, pathology, ultrasound, optional FibroScan) adds roughly $510–$1,330 annually — a modest fraction compared with medication.
Is cost a common reason people stop GLP-1 therapy?
Yes. High out-of-pocket cost is one of the most cited reasons for discontinuation within the first year.
Standard 2026 Australian private pricing for Wegovy and Mounjaro pens; standard GP/specialist consultation fee ranges; standard pathology and diagnostic imaging fee ranges, Australia.
This article is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your GP or a specialist about your individual health circumstances.
Next step
Find a liver elastography clinic near you
Search participating clinics across Australia, or talk to your GP about a baseline FIB-4 and elastography.