Spring arrives, the flowers bloom, everything’s beautiful, and you can’t breathe through your nose for three months straight. Welcome to allergy season—where the simple act of existing outdoors costs you hundreds of dollars in medications, tissues, and the will to live.

Let’s talk about what it actually costs to breathe clearly when the pollen count is trying to murder you.

The allergy tax: what seasonal survival costs

If you’re one of the 81 million Americans with seasonal allergies, you’re spending serious money just to function like a normal human during spring and fall.

Basic allergy survival kit costs:

Over-the-counter antihistamines:

  • Claritin/Zyrtec/Allegra: $15-30 for 30-day supply
  • Generic versions: $8-15 for 30-day supply
  • Monthly cost: $8-30

Nasal sprays:

  • Flonase/Nasacort: $15-25 per bottle (lasts about a month)
  • Generic fluticasone: $10-15
  • Monthly cost: $10-25

Eye drops for itchy eyes:

  • Zaditor or similar: $8-15 per bottle
  • Monthly cost: $8-15

Tissues (so many tissues):

  • You’re going through a box every 3-4 days
  • Monthly cost: $15-25

Air purifier for your bedroom:

  • One-time cost: $100-300
  • Replacement filters: $20-40 every few months

Total monthly cost during allergy season: $40-95 Total for 3-month spring season: $120-285 Annual cost (spring + fall): $240-570

And that’s just to achieve “barely functional human” status, not “actually comfortable.”

The prescription option: more effective, way more expensive

If OTC meds don’t work, you’re looking at prescription treatments.

Prescription antihistamines:

  • With insurance: $10-40/month copay
  • Without insurance: $100-200/month

Prescription nasal sprays:

  • With insurance: $20-50/month
  • Without insurance: $150-250/month

Allergy shots (immunotherapy):

  • Initial testing: $200-1,000
  • Weekly shots for months, then monthly: $25-100 per visit
  • Total annual cost: $2,000-4,000 (some insurance covers it)

The good news about shots: They can actually cure your allergies long-term. The bad news: You’re paying thousands upfront for relief that takes months to kick in.

The hidden costs nobody mentions

Beyond medications, allergies cost you in ways that don’t show up on receipts.

Productivity loss: You’re operating at 60% capacity for weeks. Brain fog, exhaustion, constant sneezing—that’s lost work performance and potential income.

Sleep deprivation: Can’t breathe at night? You’re not sleeping well, which affects everything else in your life.

Quality of life: You’re missing outdoor activities, social events, and generally being miserable for months. What’s the dollar value of actually enjoying spring?

How to reduce the allergy tax

Buy generic everything: Cetirizine (generic Zyrtec) works the same as brand name and costs half as much. Same with generic Flonase, Claritin, and eye drops.

Buy in bulk during off-season: Stock up on allergy meds in winter when they’re on sale. You’ll use them eventually.

Start meds early: Taking antihistamines before symptoms start works better and might reduce how much you need overall.

The Costco/Sam’s Club strategy: Bulk antihistamines are absurdly cheap. 365 pills of generic Zyrtec at Costco is $10-15. That’s a year’s supply for less than one month of brand-name.

Check for coupons and manufacturer discounts: GoodRx, manufacturer websites, and pharmacy apps often have significant discounts on allergy meds.

Consider generic prescription options: If you need prescription strength, ask your doctor about generic versions. Fluticasone (generic Flonase) went OTC and is way cheaper now.

The air purifier investment: $200 seems expensive until you realize it helps you breathe for years. One-time purchase beats monthly medication costs eventually.

The long-term math

Spending $50/month on OTC meds for 20 years: $12,000

Allergy shots upfront ($3,000-4,000) that might cure you: Breaks even after 5-6 years, then you’re saving money forever.

If your allergies are severe and lifelong, immunotherapy might actually be the budget option long-term.

The bottom line

Breathing clearly during allergy season costs hundreds annually, and that’s just for basic survival, not actual comfort. It’s a tax on existing in spring and fall that people without allergies will never understand.

But you can reduce costs by buying generic, stocking up during sales, and considering whether long-term treatments might save money over decades of antihistamine dependency.

Your options are: suffer for free, pay to suffer less, or pay more upfront to maybe stop suffering eventually.

Choose based on your budget, your misery level, and whether you value breathing through your nose more than money. (Spoiler: when you can’t breathe, you’ll pay anything. Plan accordingly when you can still think clearly.)