If you pay for Xeljanz without insurance, the bill can run to several thousand dollars a month. Every number in this guide comes from a public source with a date, so you can check it yourself before you decide anything.
| The short answerBrand-name Xeljanz has a US list price of about 6,073foraone-monthsupply.CanadianpublicdrugplanspayaboutCA6.50 per 5 mg tablet of tofacitinib, the generic form of Xeljanz, which is roughly CA$390 a month. A US generic has also been on sale since June 2026, so compare a US pharmacy price with a Canadian quote before you choose. |
Below you will find where each number comes from, what changed in 2026 and what to have ready if you want a quote from us.
In this guide:
- Xeljanz cost at a glance
- What Xeljanz is approved for in Canada
- Xeljanz cost in the US without insurance
- Generic Xeljanz in the US and Canada
- Xeljanz price in Canada
- Safety warnings and how ordering works
Xeljanz cost at a glance
| What | Figure | Source and date |
| US list price, brand Xeljanz, one month | About US$6,073 | GoodRx, July 2025 |
| US average retail price, Xeljanz 5 mg, 60 tablets | About US$4,824 | GoodRx, September 2026 |
| US generic tofacitinib with a coupon, most common version | As low as US$43.86 | GoodRx, 18 September 2026 |
| Canadian public plan price, tofacitinib 5 mg | CA$6.5288 a tablet | Newfoundland and Labrador drug formulary |
| BC PharmaCare cost of tofacitinib, twice daily | CA$4,722 a year | BC PharmaCare, June 2024 |
Canadian figures are what public drug plans pay before dispensing fees. They are not the price a US patient pays.
What is Xeljanz approved for in Canada?
In Canada, Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is approved for adults with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ulcerative colitis when other medicines have not worked. Tofacitinib is a JAK inhibitor, a type of anti-inflammatory drug made by Pfizer under the Xeljanz brand. The Canadian product monograph also lists adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, and some children with juvenile arthritis who weigh at least 40 kg.
For rheumatoid arthritis, Xeljanz is used with methotrexate in adults who did not respond well enough to methotrexate and at least one other disease-modifying drug.
Xeljanz comes as 5 mg and 10 mg tablets, and as an extended-release tablet called Xeljanz XR (11 mg). Your doctor decides which one you take, and whether Xeljanz suits you at all.
How much does Xeljanz cost in the US without insurance?
Without insurance, Xeljanz costs about $4,800 to $6,100 a month in the US, depending on whether you look at the retail price or the list price. GoodRx reports a manufacturer list price of about $6,073 for a one-month supply as of July 2025. Its September 2026 data shows an average retail price of about $4,824 for 60 tablets of the 5 mg strength, which is one month at 5 mg twice a day.
Insurance changes the picture. GoodRx says 96% of insurance plans cover the most common version at a co-pay of $60 to $83, though many of those plans have restrictions. If you are uninsured, or still paying down a deductible, the retail price is closer to what you will pay at the counter.
Is there a generic Xeljanz?
Yes. Generic Xeljanz, sold as tofacitinib, is available in both the US and Canada.
In the US, Breckenridge Pharmaceutical launched generic tofacitinib tablets on June 4, 2026. On September 18, 2026, GoodRx listed a coupon price as low as $43.86 for the most common version, and in August 2026 the National Alopecia Areata Foundation reported prices of $25 to $150 a month at some pharmacies. These prices depend on the pharmacy, the strength and the discount used.
In Canada, Health Canada’s Drug Product Database lists several generic tofacitinib products as marketed, from companies including Auro Pharma, Sandoz and Taro, alongside Pfizer’s Xeljanz.
A generic has the same active ingredient as the brand. Whether you can use one depends on your prescription. If your doctor wrote “brand only” or “no substitution”, ask your doctor before switching. If your prescription allows a generic, check the price of US generic tofacitinib at a local pharmacy first. For some readers it will be the lowest-cost option, and we would rather you know that before you contact us.
How much does Xeljanz cost in Canada?
In Canada, public drug plans pay about CA6.50per5mgtabletoftofacitinib,orroughlyCA390 a month at 5 mg twice a day. All figures in this section are in Canadian dollars.
• Newfoundland and Labrador’s public drug formulary lists 5 mg tofacitinib at CA$6.5288 a tablet, in a group of interchangeable products that includes Xeljanz 5 mg.
• BC PharmaCare listed the cost of tofacitinib (Xeljanz and generics), taken twice daily, at CA4,722ayearinJune2024.ThatisaboutCA390 a month.
• In an April 2026 review, Canada’s Drug Agency noted that Ontario’s drug plan pays for brand-name Xeljanz at the price of its interchangeable generics, about $6 per 5 mg tablet.
These are the prices public plans pay, before dispensing fees. They are not the price a US patient pays to order Xeljanz from Canada. That price also covers dispensing and shipping, and it changes with the strength, the quantity and whether you need the brand or a generic. This is why we do not publish prices and quote each order instead.
| Want to compare a Canadian quote with your US price?A valid prescription is required. Message us with your medication name and strength, and a real person will reply with your quote, usually within one business day.[Button: Message us for your quote] |
What safety warnings has Health Canada issued?
Health Canada requires serious warnings about heart problems, cancer, blood clots and infections for Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR. On April 6, 2021, Health Canada started a safety review after a clinical trial found a higher risk of serious heart problems and cancer. After the review, the Canadian product monograph was updated to list the risks of major heart-related events and cancer under its serious warnings, and Health Canada’s safety notice also covers blood clots and infections.
Read the patient leaflet that comes with your medicine. Do not stop taking Xeljanz, or change your dose, without speaking to your doctor. That applies wherever you fill your prescription.
How does ordering through SimpleScripts work?
SimpleScripts is a prescription facilitation service based in British Columbia, Canada. We are not a pharmacy. Every order is reviewed, dispensed and shipped by an independent, licensed Canadian pharmacy, and a valid prescription is required for every order.
- Message us with your medication name and strength. Tell us whether your prescription is for brand Xeljanz or allows generic tofacitinib.
- A real person replies by email with your quote, usually within one business day.
- If you decide to go ahead, the licensed Canadian pharmacy reviews your prescription before anything is dispensed.
What to have ready:
- The name and strength on your prescription label, for example Xeljanz 5 mg
- Whether your prescription allows a generic
- A valid prescription from your doctor
The full steps are on our How It Works page. For the rules on bringing medication into the US, see our guide “Is it legal to buy medication from Canada? A straight answer for Americans.”
Frequently asked questions
How much does Xeljanz cost without insurance?
GoodRx reports a US list price of about $6,073 for a one-month supply of Xeljanz (July 2025) and an average retail price of about $4,824 for 60 tablets of 5 mg (September 2026). Generic tofacitinib can cost much less with a discount.
Does Xeljanz cost less in Canada than in the US?
Public figures show Canadian drug plans pay far less for tofacitinib than the US list price of brand Xeljanz. A US generic has also been available since June 2026, and some US pharmacies list it for less. Compare both before you decide.
Is generic tofacitinib the same as Xeljanz?
Generic tofacitinib has the same active ingredient as Xeljanz. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether switching is right for you, and check whether your prescription allows substitution.
Do I need a prescription?
Yes. A valid prescription is required for every order, and the licensed Canadian pharmacy reviews it before dispensing.
Does SimpleScripts sell Xeljanz?
SimpleScripts is not a pharmacy. We connect you with a licensed Canadian pharmacy and send your quote by email.
A valid prescription is required. Message us with your medication name for a quote.
SimpleScripts is a prescription facilitation service. All orders are dispensed by licensed Canadian pharmacies. A valid prescription is required.