According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, prices for a gram of meth sold in the US can vary greatly, ranging from $10-$400. Purity, location, and availability all affect how much meth costs at a given time.[1]
| Measurement | Weight in grams | Price in USD |
|---|---|---|
| One gram of meth | 1g | $10 - $400 |
| 8-ball of meth | 3.5g | $40 - $60 |
| One ounce of meth | 28.3g | $150-$300 |
| One pound of meth | 454g | $1400 - $2,000 |
| One kilo of meth | 1000g | $6,500 - $15,000 |
Read below to find out the cost of meth by weight, what affects the cost, and the intangible costs of meth addiction.
- The average price of a single gram of meth in the US can have a street price that varies depending on purity and location, though prices do not tend to exceed $100.
- An 8-ball of meth will often sell for between $40 and $60 but as with other meth prices, this can go up depending on the purity.
- Meth abuse can cost between $12,800 and $38,300 per year depending on the quantities of meth needed to support the habit, but its biggest impact is felt in its effects on one’s health, relationships, and quality of life.
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What is the street price of a hit of meth?
A hit (single dose) of crystal meth can cost as little as $5 and is often 100% pure. This means that individuals can get highly addictive meth at low prices, causing dependence on the substance to form quickly.
The low cost and short-lived high also means that users will binge meth, smoking the substance through meth pipes and other devices, with sessions lasting for hours if not days. Chronic use such as this builds tolerance to the drug faster, and will often lead to meth dependence forming rapidly.
How much is a gram of meth?
The average price of a single gram of meth according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime can vary anywhere from $10 to $400 depending on purity and location, though prices do not tend to exceed $100.[1] For comparison, the price of a gram of coke is on average $120 in the US.
A gram of powdered meth that costs less than $50 is likely to contain far less methamphetamine and will often be cut with other substances such as hayfever tablets or more harmful chemicals such as red phosphorus. This means that cheap crystal meth can be even more harmful as dealers will often add chemicals during the cooking process as well as other drugs that can lead to severe health risks.
How much is a pound of meth?
An ounce of meth (equivalent to 28.3g) may cost around $150 to $300 in the United States.[4]
What is an 8 ball of meth and how much is it?
An 8-ball refers to a weight measurement of drugs (such as weed and cocaine) that is 1/8th of an ounce, or 3.5 grams.
An 8-ball of meth will often sell for between $40 and $60 but as with other meth prices, this can go up depending on the purity.[4] This is a comparatively low price when compared with the cost of an 8 ball of cocaine.
How much is a pound of meth?
Low-level drug dealers and those looking to purchase in large quantities will sometimes buy meth by the pound. Methamphetamine can cost between $1,400 and $2,000 per pound wholesale, with the cost varying wildly depending on location and quality.[4]
How much is a kilo of meth?
A kilo of meth may cost around $6,000 to $15,000 in the US, but the typical price is $10,500.[1]
The street cost of a kilo of meth can vary greatly owing to where it is sourced from and also whether it is powder or crystal meth. Sales of meth in large weights are rarely performed by street-level dealers and will instead be distributed out from drug lords or kingpins for specific areas.
Meth prices in other countries
The price of meth varies greatly around the world. We compared the US average to countries with available prices of meth powder by the kilo in 2021.[1]
| Country | Typical price of meth by kilo (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Kenya | $73,120 |
| El Salvador | $50,000 |
| Austria | $47,449 |
| Hong Kong | $26,840 |
| United Kingdom | $20,632 |
| India | $16,272 |
| Mexico | $14,446 |
| Poland | $11,694 |
| United Arab Emirates | $11,230 |
| United States | $10,500 |
| Pakistan | $2,936 |
| Guatemala | $1,941 |
What affects the price of meth?
Like with all illicit substances, there are a variety of factors that affect the cost of meth. The main areas that change meth costs are:
- Availability - Illicit drug production and distribution is an illegal activity that costs the government billions of dollars per year. Increased law presence tends to force drug manufacturers to limit their production, making the sale of substances like meth riskier and therefore higher.
- Purity - Methamphetamine can be mixed with a variety of other substances that can cause different side effects and feelings. Most of these combinations make the drug even more dangerous to take. For example, mixing meth with potent opioids like fentanyl greatly increases the risk of opioid overdose. These dangerous drug combinations affect the average purity and also tend to increase prices, as well as affecting how long meth remains in the system.
- Location - As with availability, where drugs are produced dictates their price. Meth tends to be produced in the south and Mexico by Mexican drug cartels, meaning states in this area tend to have more access to the substance. The same is also true of larger cities, where crime rates and drug dealing tend to be higher, making the substance more readily obtainable.[3]
The cost of meth addiction
Meth addiction may not appear to be a financial burden when looking at the price of a single hit, but these costs add up. For example, a meth addict can spend between $12,800 and $38,300 per year on buying the quantities of meth needed to support their habit.
The financial cost is not the biggest loss a person with methamphetamine addiction faces, however. As with all forms of substance use disorder, meth addiction greatly impacts health (both mental and physical), oral hygiene, relationships, family, work, education, and just about all areas of life. Once a person has developed a dependence on meth they will often find their lives spiraling out of control and may find it hard to recognize and hold onto the important parts of themselves outside of their addiction.
Treatment options for meth addiction
Stimulant addiction treatment centers can offer help and support for those suffering from all types of substance use disorder, including meth. Some of the effective treatments for meth abuse include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and contingency management intervention among others.
If you or someone you care about is suffering from addiction, contact a treatment provider near you today using Recovered’s directory of rehabilitation centers by state.
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