Ultrasound Cost in San Diego, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay
What does a ultrasound cost in San Diego, CA?
The same ultrasound in San Diego, CA might cost you $96 at one facility and $473 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 18 reporting hospitals is $97. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law. The sections below break this down by coverage and by insurer.
Three low-priced facilities in San Diego, CA, from hospital price files
- Kindred Hospital San Diego · San Diego, CA $93
- KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN MARCOS · San Marcos, CA $96
- KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN DIEGO - CLAIREMONT MESA · San Diego, CA $96
Free: the typical range and the facilities above. Add your email and we send the full ranked list of all 18 facilities (PDF) plus a checklist of what to ask before you book. We don't sell your information (privacy policy).
Where ultrasound costs vary in San Diego, CA
Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby 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.
The same ultrasound can be one bill or two - and the radiologist can be out-of-network even when the facility isn't.
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Cheapest Ultrasound Providers in San Diego, CA
Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.
| # | Facility | City | Price | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kindred Hospital San Diego | San Diego, CA | $93 | -$4 |
| 2 | KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN MARCOS | San Marcos, CA | $96 | -$1 |
| 3 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $926 | -$000 |
| 4 | KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN DIEGO - CLAIREMONT MESA | San Diego, CA | $96 | -$1 |
| 5 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $928 | -$000 |
| 6 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $929 | -$000 |
| 7 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $930 | -$000 |
| 8 | Hospital name hidden | Your City, CA | $931 | -$000 |
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Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.
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Sends a PDF with all 18 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
- Kindred Hospital San Diego is the lowest-cost option at $93 - $4 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 $97, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
- Independent imaging centers often charge much less than hospital outpatient departments for the same scan and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor whether one is an option.
| Coverage | Hospitals with a rate | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (national rate) | — | $107 to $107 | $107 |
| With insurance (commercial, average) | 16 | $144 to $352 | $223 |
| Without insurance (cash price) | 18 | $86 to $2,156 | $97 |
| Anthem Blue Cross | 12 | $152 to $333 | $208 |
| Aetna | 12 | $95 to $259 | $153 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 11 | $40 to $274 | $120 |
| Cigna | 11 | $182 to $387 | $220 |
Rates are negotiated allowed amounts and cash prices from hospital price-transparency files (October 2026), shown at each hospital’s lowest-priced typical billing code for this procedure. Facility fees only. The typical range is the middle 80% of hospitals, not a quote for your visit.
How much does an ultrasound cost with Medicare in San Diego, CA?
Medicare's national hospital outpatient payment for ultrasound is about $107 to $107 (typically near $107). After the $257 Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, about $21 on a $107 payment, with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Doctor, anesthesia and pathology fees are billed separately. Medicare rates are national CMS amounts, adjusted slightly by local wage levels.
How much does an ultrasound cost with insurance in San Diego, CA?
Across 16 San Diego, CA hospitals, the negotiated rates commercial insurers pay for ultrasound average $144 to $352 per hospital, with a median near $223. That is the amount your plan and you pay the hospital together; you owe your deductible, then coinsurance, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.
Each hospital’s figure is the average of the commercial insurers it lists. Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid rates are excluded.
How much does an ultrasound cost without insurance in San Diego, CA?
Cash (self-pay) prices for ultrasound at 18 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $86 to $2,156, with a median of $97. Ask for the cash or self-pay price and for any financial-assistance discount before you book; both can be lower than the posted price.
Cash prices are the hospital’s published discounted rate for patients paying without insurance.
How much does an ultrasound cost with Anthem Blue Cross in San Diego, CA?
Anthem Blue Cross negotiated rates for ultrasound at 12 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $152 to $333, with a median near $208. Your own cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance, and on whether the hospital is in your network.
Includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem plans listed by each hospital.
How much does an ultrasound cost with Aetna in San Diego, CA?
Aetna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 12 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $95 to $259, with a median near $153. If a hospital is out of network for your Aetna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does an ultrasound cost with UnitedHealthcare in San Diego, CA?
UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates for ultrasound at 11 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $40 to $274, with a median near $120. If a hospital is out of network for your UnitedHealthcare plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
How much does an ultrasound cost with Cigna in San Diego, CA?
Cigna negotiated rates for ultrasound at 11 San Diego, CA hospitals range from $182 to $387, with a median near $220. If a hospital is out of network for your Cigna plan, you may owe more than the negotiated rate, so check the network first.
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. Ultrasound pricing varies more by body part and clinical indication than almost any other imaging type - an OB ultrasound, a vascular duplex study, and an abdominal ultrasound carry different CPT codes and reimbursement rates even though the equipment is the same. Independent imaging centers typically charge 40–60% less than hospital outpatient departments for the same study. The sonographer skill matters more than setting for diagnostic quality.
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 (4) report prices above $1,448, including Sharp Memorial Hospital at $2,156, 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 $97 versus $97 inpatient, 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.
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.
| Your situation | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|
| Deductible not yet met | ~$97 |
| Deductible met - 20% coinsurance | ~$19 |
| Out-of-network provider | $213+ |
Frequently asked questions: ultrasound costs in San Diego, CA
How much does an ultrasound cost in San Diego, CA?
The typical insurer-negotiated rate is $31, with most facilities between $31 and $96 (based on 13 hospitals reporting negotiated rates). Full market pricing - including cash rates, gross charges, and outlier facilities - ranges more widely, from $62 to $2,156 across all 18 San Diego, CA 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 an ultrasound in San Diego, CA?
Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our San Diego, CA data is Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego in San Diego at about $62. By metro, San Diego has the lowest median ($96). Independent 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 ultrasound so much cheaper at some San Diego, CA hospitals?
Prices vary up to 34.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In San Diego, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $97 versus a median negotiated rate of $223 - cash is the lower number at many hospitals. 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 an ultrasound in San Diego, CA?
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
- Understanding your UnitedHealthcare EOB
Other procedures in San Diego, CA
Ultrasound, elsewhere
What matters before you schedule
Imaging center vs. hospital
Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than independent imaging centers for the same ultrasound - 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.
Cost by type
Which type your doctor orders for this ultrasound changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A recognized variation that can change the billing code and what you owe.
This is shoppable
Ultrasound 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 ultrasound 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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