This study sought to evaluate surgical outcomes, cost, and opiate utilization of patients who underwent laparoscopic (LC) or robotic cholecystectomy (RC). The Vizient database was queried for patients admitted with mild to moderate severity of illness (SOI) scores who underwent LC or RC from January 2015 through December 2017. Rates of overall complications, postoperative infection, mortality, LOS, cost, and opiate utilization were compared between groups using IBM SPSS v.25.0, α = 0.05. 91,849 patients (LC:N = 89,878; RC:N = 1,971) met the inclusion criteria. Robotic approach was associated with more complications (LC:0.9%, RC:1.7%; p < 0.001), postoperative infections (LC:0.2%, RC:0.4%; p = 0.033) and a higher direct cost (LC:$6782 ± 3421, RC:$9354 ± 5497; p < 0.001). Opiates were prescribed more frequently in the laparoscopic group (LC:98.3%, RC:97.2%; p = 0.002). The direct cost of RC is significantly higher than LC with no added benefit. Routine use of the robotic platform for cholecystectomy should be discouraged until costs are reduced. •Cost of robotic cholecystectomy remains significantly higher than laparoscopy.•Robotic approach is associated with increased rate of complications and infection.•Use of the robotic platform does not improve outcomes for patients with obesity. The Vizient database was queried for patients admitted with mild to moderate severity of illness scores who subsequently underwent laparoscopic or robotic cholecystectomy for biliary disease. Robotic approach was associated with a significantly higher direct cost and slightly increased rates of overall complications and postoperative infection.