The Costs of Influenza (Flu)
| Cost item | Estimated cost or range |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory flu-related care | $312 average |
| Prescription medicine | $119 average |
| Emergency department care, when used | $840 average |
| OTC fever, pain, and cough products | $20-$60 |
| Thermometer, tissues, drinks, and cleaning supplies | $25-$90 |
| Food or medication delivery | $25-$75 |
| Transportation and parking | $20-$75 |
| Highest cost: Two to five missed workdays | $500-$1,250 |
| Backup care for another child or dependent | $60-$900 |
AHRQ reported mean 2017-dollar influenza expenditures of $312 for ambulatory care, $119 for prescriptions, and $840 for emergency department care among users of each service. Read the AHRQ influenza expenditure brief. Household items are planning ranges; missed income uses BLS earnings.
Disclaimer
Cost estimates are based on published U.S. healthcare expenditures and illustrative household expenses. Actual costs depend on disease severity, location, insurance coverage, wages, paid leave, services received, and family needs. Healthcare figures may represent combined payments from patients, insurers, and public programs and are not guaranteed to reflect out-of-pocket prices. Household expense ranges describe possible costs and should not be added as though every family will incur every item.
For the examples below, missed income is illustrated using median full-time earnings of $1,251 per week in the second quarter of 2026, about $250 per workday. A person’s actual loss may be higher, lower, or zero depending on wages and paid leave.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings, Second Quarter 2026.
Childcare prices differ sharply by location, age, and care setting. The ranges below are planning estimates. Local organizations can replace them with county-level prices from the U.S. Department of Labor database.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices.
