Knee Replacement Cost in North Dakota (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a knee replacement cost in North Dakota?

For a commercially insured patient, a knee replacement in North Dakota typically runs $4,895–$22,675 once facility and physician fees are combined. The median reported facility price across 17 hospitals is $3,154. The figures draw on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Sanford Health and CHI St. Alexius divide most of North Dakota's hospital market, with Bismarck and Fargo each effectively dominated by one system. The state's oil-economy wage growth has increased hospital labor costs, pushing prices above what the rural market structure would otherwise suggest. Critical access hospitals cover most of the rural tier.

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.

Even within North Dakota, Fargo ($2,022) and Grand Forks ($3,168) are 1.6× apart on the median price. The same knee replacement that costs $512 at PAM Cubed Rehabilitation Hospital of Fargo LLC in Fargo reaches $35,827 at Sanford Medical Center Bismarck in Bismarck — a 70× gap across the 17 North Dakota hospitals reporting prices. The median North Dakota price is $3,154. Most facilities fall between $2,255 and $16,223. Self-pay patients are quoted more than insurers actually pay: the median cash price is $3,242 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,482.

Where knee replacement costs vary in North Dakota

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

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The facility you choose matters more than almost anything else — the same procedure, same quality, same state can cost 5× more at one hospital versus the one down the road.

→ Compare all procedure costs   → Knee Replacement costs nationwide

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Lower-cost options in North Dakota start around $2,255 or below. Most hospitals cluster between $2,255 and $17,555. A smaller group reports prices above that — often academic medical centers or high-cost markets.

If you're comparing specific hospitals, the lowest self-pay rates reported in this dataset include: Sanford Fargo Medical Center in Fargo (cash price from $2,022); CHI St. Alexius Health Williston in Williston (cash price from $2,056); Sanford Medical Center Bismarck in Bismarck (cash price from $2,475). These are declared cash prices — contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

North Dakota Knee Replacement prices by facility

All prices below come from hospital chargemasters — the official price lists each hospital must publish under federal law. Gross charge is the undiscounted list price; cash price is the self-pay rate; negotiated range covers the spread across insurance contracts.

Source: CMS hospital price transparency machine-readable files. vs Median = savings or premium relative to the state median price. Gross Charge = undiscounted list price for reference.

Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go →

Compare other procedures in North Dakota:

• Appendectomy Cost in North Dakota
• Cataract Surgery Cost in North Dakota

Where you can save the most on knee replacement in North Dakota

These facilities have the lowest declared prices relative to the state median — they represent the best opportunities to reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Most expensive knee replacement providers in North Dakota

These facilities report the highest prices for this procedure. Academic medical centers and specialty hospitals often top this list — their gross charges rarely reflect what anyone actually pays, but understanding the spread helps you negotiate.

Why prices vary this much

Setting drives much of the gap in North Dakota: the median outpatient price is $8,510 versus $2,493 inpatient, so where a procedure is performed often matters more than which hospital you choose. Of the North Dakota facilities reporting prices, 6 fall in a low-cost tier (up to $2,255) while 7 sit in a high-cost tier ($17,555 and up) — a lower-priced option almost always exists within the same state.

The spread comes from how each hospital sets its chargemaster (the undiscounted list price), what cash discounts it applies, and what rates it negotiates with each insurer. Facility classification matters too — a hospital-owned outpatient center adds a facility fee that a freestanding clinic does not. Understanding these mechanics is the first step to paying less.

Learn more:
→ Allowed amount vs negotiated rate — what your EOB is really saying
→ How to read your medical bill
→ Why hospital prices are so hard to find — and what to do about it

How insurance changes what you actually pay

Hospital list prices are only part of the picture. What you pay out of pocket depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility is in-network, and whether your plan classifies the visit as outpatient or inpatient. A lower gross charge doesn't guarantee a lower bill if the facility is out-of-network or adds facility fees your plan doesn't cover.

Understand your cost before you go:
→ Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
→ EOB vs medical bill — complete guide
→ How to stop medical bill problems before they start (in-network vs out-of-network)

Knee Replacement Costs by Metro Area in North Dakota

Prices vary across North Dakota metro areas based on local hospital competition, wage adjustments, and facility mix. Explore detailed facility price data for each metro area:

• Knee Replacement Cost in Bismarck, ND
• Knee Replacement Cost in Fargo, ND
• Knee Replacement Cost in Grand Forks, ND

Compare knee replacement costs in nearby states

• New York
• California
• Texas
• Florida

Frequently asked questions: knee replacement costs in North Dakota

How much does a knee replacement cost in North Dakota?

Across 17 North Dakota hospitals that publish prices, a knee replacement ranges from $512 to $35,827, with a median of $3,154. Most facilities fall between $2,255 and $16,223. 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 North Dakota?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our North Dakota data is PAM Cubed Rehabilitation Hospital of Fargo LLC in Fargo at about $567. By metro, Fargo has the lowest median ($2,022). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging 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 North Dakota hospitals?

Prices vary up to 70× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In North Dakota, the median cash (self-pay) price is $3,242 versus a median negotiated rate of $2,482 — about 1.3× higher. Asking for the cash price or 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 North Dakota?

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.

Explore all knee replacement cost data

→ See knee replacement costs across all states

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. If you've received a bill for this procedure:
→ Analyze your medical bill for errors
→ How to negotiate your medical bills
→ Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account)