OBJECTIVES: To estimate the cost of antibiotics for the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) patients.  METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted for six months in CSOM patients after obtaining the ethical clearance. Patients treated in our hospital during 2012-2014 were included in the study. Demographic details and cost of the antibiotics were collected from medical case records. All patients who were given antibiotics after the culture sensitivity report were included. Actual cost of antibiotics were calculated by considering the brand name. The cost of drug was obtained from the hospital formulary. Cost of other drugs were excluded. Data were analysed using SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: A total of 147 CSOM patients were recruited for the study during the study period with male predominance of 55.7% (N=82). 62% of patients were diagnosed with CSOM tubotympanic disease.  Average cost of the antibiotics among the CSOM patients was found out to be INR1550 ($23.3) for the year 2012 followed by INR 2036 ($30.6) for 2013 and INR 3358 ($50.5) for 2014. The minimum cost of antibiotic therapy was found to be INR 82 ($1.2) in 2012 followed by INR 78 ($1.1) in 2013 and INR 96 ($1.4) in 2014. Maximum cost incurred for antibiotics was INR 8346 ($125.5) in 2012 followed by INR 19816 ($298.1) in 2013 and INR 24780 ($372.7) in 2014.  CONCLUSIONS: Our study results revealed that the treatment cost of antibiotics in CSOM patients were increasing in the due course of three years. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing globally thereby increasing the cost of antimicrobial therapy. Rational therapy of antibiotics may improve antimicrobial resistance and thereby reducing the economic burden to the society.