text: why does printer ink cost so much?   printer ink costs so much because there is very little competition.  the manufactures of printers have a monopoly going. it is much like general motors or ford selling you a car and saying you have to use their brand of gas.  this would never fly but the printer manufacturers are getting away with it. there are alternatives like pacific ink, carrot ink, etc.  found some very useful information on the subject http://www.pacificink.com/blog/index.php