Knee Replacement Cost in Durham, NC (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a knee replacement cost in Durham, NC?
The same knee replacement in Durham, NC might cost you $4,571 at one facility and $9,638 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 6 reporting hospitals is $6,517. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.
Three low-priced facilities in Durham, NC, from hospital price files
- DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. Doing Business As: DURHAM REGIONAL HOSPITAL · Durham, NC $3,270
- Person Memorial Hospital $7,162
- Universal Health Services of Rancho Springs, Inc. · Temecula, NC $20,062
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 6 facilities (PDF) plus a checklist of what to ask before you book. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Where knee replacement costs vary in Durham, NC
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.
A knee replacement is four separate bills - and physical therapy, the longest of any joint replacement, is billed per visit.
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- ✓ Why a short inpatient stay adds a facility day-rate on top of the surgery itself
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Cheapest Knee Replacement Providers in Durham, NC
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, NC | $502 | -$000 |
| 2 | DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. Doing Business As: DURHAM REGIONAL HOSPITAL | Durham, NC | $3,270 | -$3,247 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, NC | $500 | -$000 |
| 4 | Person Memorial Hospital | NC | $7,162 | +$645 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, NC | $498 | -$000 |
| 6 | Universal Health Services of Rancho Springs, Inc. | Temecula, NC | $20,062 | +$13,545 |
Your ranked price list is on its way to your email. Open the PDF now.
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Email me this price comparison plus what to ask before booking
Sends a PDF with all 6 facilities ranked cheapest first, plus a short checklist of questions that change what you pay. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Before you book: three questions that change the price
- Is this the self-pay price, and does it include the doctor, anesthesia and any lab or pathology? Those are often billed separately.
- Can you give me the price in writing, with the billing codes it covers?
- What happens to the price if something extra is needed during the procedure?
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Quick take
- DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. Doing Business As: DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL is the lowest-cost option at $3,270 - $3,247 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
- Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $6,517, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- This dataset covers hospitals only - freestanding ASCs, which routinely run 30-60% cheaper for the same procedure, aren't included, so it's worth asking your doctor whether one is an option.
Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare) and Wake Forest Baptist Health have merged into one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast. Duke Health and UNC Health anchor the Research Triangle academic tier, creating a market where major academic centers hold outsized pricing leverage. North Carolina has been an active target for FTC scrutiny of hospital consolidation. Knee replacement is a high-cost elective procedure where facility selection has an outsized impact on total cost. Hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgery center rates for knee replacement have converged on outcomes but diverged further on price - ASC rates are typically 30–50% below hospital rates for the same implant and surgeon. Medicare Advantage plans increasingly direct patients to designated bundled-payment facilities where your out-of-pocket liability is capped.
Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go → Managing more than one bill? See the family tracker →
Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage
Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $6,517 versus $20,062 inpatient (about 3.1× 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.
None of the prices above are what you'll necessarily owe: your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and each provider's network status all still apply.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$6,517 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$1,303 |
| Out-of-network provider | $14,337+ |
Frequently asked questions: knee replacement costs in Durham, NC
How much does a knee replacement cost in Durham, NC?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $3,576, with most facilities between $1,327 and $5,518 (based on 6 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $3,270 to $20,062 across all 6 Durham, NC hospitals that publish prices. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get a knee replacement in Durham, NC?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Durham, NC data is DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. Doing Business As: DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL in Durham at about $3,270. By metro, Durham has the lowest median ($3,270). 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 knee replacement so much cheaper at some Durham, NC hospitals?
Prices vary up to 6.1× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Durham, NC, the median cash (self-pay) price is $6,517 versus a median negotiated rate of $3,576 - about 1.8× 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 knee replacement in Durham, NC?
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.
Before you book
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- How to negotiate your medical bills
- EOB vs medical bill: complete guide
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- How to read an EOB line by line
Other procedures in Durham, NC
Knee Replacement, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
ASC vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than ambulatory surgery centers for the same knee replacement - same outcome, very different bill. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.
What's on your bill
A knee replacement involves multiple providers who bill separately - typically ASC Facility Fee, Orthopedic Surgeon Professional Fee, Anesthesia. Check each line item against your Explanation of Benefits to catch billing errors.
Cost by type
Which type your doctor orders for this knee replacement changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.
What to ask before you book
Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for knee replacement before you schedule.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
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About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
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