MRI Cost in Nashville, TN (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a mri cost in Nashville, TN?
Where you have an mri done in Nashville, TN swings the bill from $100 to $253 for identical care. The median cash price across 14 reporting hospitals is $179. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.
Where mri costs vary in Nashville, TN
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.
26+ people checked prices near them this month.
Hospital MRI costs run 2–5× more than independent imaging centers. Most patients never knew they had a choice.
Your personalized cost report includes:
- ✓ Why the exact same scan costs $400 at one site and $2,200 at another
- ✓ The separate radiologist bill most patients miss (and how to verify it's in-network)
- ✓ When contrast adds a charge - and when to ask if you need it
- ✓ The questions to ask before scheduling that protect you from surprise bills
- ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line
Free for patients - takes 30 seconds to get.
We'll send a sign-in link to your email - click it to get your guide. No account required, no spam.
Cheapest MRI Providers in Nashville, TN
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverview Regional Medical Center | TN | $51 | -$128 |
| 2 | Trousdale Medical Center | TN | $51 | -$128 |
| 3 | Sumner Regional Medical Center | TN | $52 | -$127 |
| 4 | Williamson County Hospital District | Franklin, TN | $100 | -$79 |
| 5 | TRISTAR HENDERSONVILLE MEDICAL CENTER | Hendersonville, TN | $100 | -$79 |
| 6 | TRISTAR STONECREST MEDICAL CENTER | Smyrna, TN | $101 | -$78 |
| 7 | Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals | TN | $167 | -$12 |
| 8 | Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital | TN | $179 | +$0 |
Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
Quick take
- Riverview Regional Medical Center is the lowest-cost option at $51 - $128 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 $179, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Ask whether this procedure can be done at a freestanding ambulatory surgical center - they're typically 30-60% cheaper than a hospital for identical care, and most aren't in this hospital-only dataset.
HCA Healthcare, headquartered in Nashville, has significant hospital presence in its home state, creating pricing patterns more aligned with for-profit hospital economics than nonprofit systems in comparable markets. Vanderbilt University Medical Center anchors the Nashville academic tier. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, maintaining a high uninsured rate that influences facility pricing structures. MRI pricing has some of the widest site-of-service spreads in all of imaging - hospital outpatient MRIs often cost 4–8× more than the same scan at a freestanding imaging center. With vs. without contrast and body part scanned are separate CPT codes with meaningfully different prices; confirm exactly what was ordered before scheduling. For non-urgent imaging, independent imaging centers offer the same diagnostic quality at a fraction of hospital prices.
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
A small number of hospitals (2) report prices above $485, including Saint Thomas Rehabilitation Hospital at $657, 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 $173 versus $1,122 inpatient (about 6.5× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Whether the scan happens in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a separate facility fee) or a freestanding imaging center is usually the single biggest driver of price for this procedure.
On top of the facility price, your actual bill depends on your deductible, your out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved - not just the facility - is in-network.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$179 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$36 |
| Out-of-network provider | $394+ |
Frequently asked questions: MRI costs in Nashville, TN
How much does an MRI cost in Nashville, TN?
Across 14 Nashville, TN hospitals that publish prices, an MRI ranges from $51 to $657, with a median of $179. Most facilities fall between $100 and $253. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.
Where is the cheapest place to get an MRI in Nashville, TN?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Nashville, TN data is Riverview Regional Medical Center at about $51. 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 an MRI so much cheaper at some Nashville, TN hospitals?
Prices vary up to 12.9× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Nashville, TN, the median cash (self-pay) price is $179 versus a median negotiated rate of $100 - about 1.8× 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 an MRI in Nashville, TN?
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
- Allowed amount vs negotiated rate: what your EOB is really saying
- How to read your medical bill
- Deductible vs out-of-pocket max
- Already have a bill? Check it for errors
- How to read an EOB line by line
Other procedures in Nashville, TN
MRI, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
ASC vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than ASCs or independent centers for the same mri - same outcome, very different bill. The ER charges the most of any setting and should only be used when the situation is medically urgent. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.
With vs. without contrast
Which type your doctor orders for this mri changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard mri with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.
This is shoppable
MRI is elective and schedulable, so you have time to compare facilities before booking - hospital outpatient prices often run 2-4x higher than alternative settings for the identical clinical outcome.
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 mri before you schedule.
CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).
Other Procedure Costs in Nashville, TN
- Appendectomy Cost in Nashville, TN
- Cataract Surgery Cost in Nashville, TN
- Childbirth Cost in Nashville, TN
- Cholecystectomy Cost in Nashville, TN
- Colonoscopy Cost in Nashville, TN
- CT Scan (Abdomen) Cost in Nashville, TN
- CT Scan (Chest) Cost in Nashville, TN
- CT Scan (Head) Cost in Nashville, TN
- CT Scan Cost in Nashville, TN
- Echocardiogram Cost in Nashville, TN
- Emergency Room Visit Cost in Nashville, TN
- Endoscopy Cost in Nashville, TN
- Hip Replacement Cost in Nashville, TN
- Hysterectomy Cost in Nashville, TN
- Knee Replacement Cost in Nashville, TN
- Mammogram Cost in Nashville, TN
- Brain MRI Cost in Nashville, TN
- Knee MRI Cost in Nashville, TN
- Spinal Fusion Cost in Nashville, TN
- Ultrasound Cost in Nashville, TN
- X-Ray Cost in Nashville, TN
Related Articles
Interested in understanding healthcare costs and managing your medical expenses?
- Free Cost EstimatorCalculate your exact out-of-pocket cost for any procedure
- Free Bill ScreenerCheck whether your bill and paperwork are ready for a professional review
- Family Bill TrackerTrack costs across every family member and every bill in one place
- MRI Cost GuideCompare MRI prices across all 50 states
- Deductible vs Out-of-Pocket MaximumLearn how insurance cost-sharing works and what you actually pay
- Cost ExplorerBrowse procedures and compare prices across the country
- CT Scan Cost GuideFind detailed CT scan pricing for your state
- MRI Brain Cost GuideCompare brain MRI pricing
About the Author
John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.
Connect on LinkedIn →Ready to take control of your healthcare costs?
Use the free cost estimator → · Get your bill screened for free → · See the family plan →