Bunion Surgery Cost in California (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a bunion surgery cost in California?

Where you have a bunion surgery done in California swings the bill from $1,009 to $4,248 for identical care. The median cash price across 218 reporting hospitals is $2,321. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.

Where bunion surgery costs vary in California

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

California has the most competitive commercial hospital market in the country, with aggressive multi-system competition in every major metro driving meaningful price variation. Kaiser Permanente's integrated payer-provider model covers roughly 40% of the insured population in the state - if you're Kaiser-enrolled, the prices here largely don't apply. California's robust price transparency enforcement under SB 1204 means the data here is more complete than in most states.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (9) report prices above $10,320, including UC San Diego Medical Center at $17,641, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $2,321 versus $3,101 inpatient (about 1.3× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Setting drives most of the spread here: an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) is usually meaningfully cheaper than a hospital operating room for the same procedure, when your case qualifies.

What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.

Frequently asked questions: bunion surgery costs in California

How much does a bunion surgery cost in California?

The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $1,507, with most facilities between $494 and $3,921 (based on 218 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Posted cash prices start at $792, with a median of $2,321; outlier facilities are left out. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get a bunion surgery in California?

Based on declared prices, the lowest posted price in our California data is LOS ANGELES GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER in Los Angeles at about $792. By metro, Los Angeles has the lowest median ($1,471). Freestanding ambulatory surgery centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is a bunion surgery so much cheaper at some California hospitals?

Typical prices vary about 7.9× (25th to 70th percentile of negotiated rates) because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In California, the median cash (self-pay) price is $3,165 versus a median negotiated rate of $1,507 - about 2.1× higher. Asking for the cash price as well as your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for a bunion surgery in California?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).