Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated July 17, 2026

Ultrasound Cost in North Carolina (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

Creator: John Caruso, FSA, MAAA
Published: 2026-07-17T19:26:00.905Z
Keywords: ultrasound cost north-carolina, ultrasound price north-carolina, North Carolina healthcare costs, hospital price transparency, medical cost comparison

What does a ultrasound cost in North Carolina?

Where you have an ultrasound done in North Carolina swings the bill from $98 to $194 for identical care. The median cash price across 66 reporting hospitals is $139. The numbers are pulled directly from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.

Where ultrasound costs vary in North Carolina

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.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Click a pin for details.

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.

Your personalized cost report includes:

✓ Why a facility splits into a technical bill and a separate radiologist bill (and an office bills one global fee)
✓ How the radiologist who reads your images can be out-of-network even at an in-network facility
✓ Why a hospital outpatient department costs far more than an independent imaging center
✓ How a complete vs. limited study changes the price - and the questions to ask first
✓ 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 Ultrasound Providers in North Carolina

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

#	Facility	City	Price	vs Median
1	Southeastern Regional Medical Center	NC	$60	-$79
2	UNC Rockingham Health Care, Inc.	NC	$61	-$78
3	Scotland Memorial Care	Laurinburg, NC	$66	-$73
4	Ashe Memorial Hospital	Jefferson, NC	$68	-$71
5	Novant Health Medical Park Hospital	Winston-Salem, NC	$72	-$67
6	Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center	Wilmington, NC	$72	-$67
7	Wilson Medical Center	NC	$75	-$64
8	Wayne Memorial Hospital, Inc.	NC	$81	-$58

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Quick take

Southeastern Regional Medical Center is the lowest-cost option at $60 - $79 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 $143, 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.

How where you go changes what you pay for ultrasound

The same ultrasound bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.

Hospital Outpatient

$126–$910

Facility fee $51–$438
Professional fee $75–$472

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient

$132–$1,392

Facility fee $57–$920
Professional fee $75–$472

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

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. 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 (2) report prices above $378, including PAM Specialty Hospital of Rocky Mount LLC at $920, 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 $134 versus $143 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.

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	~$139
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance	~$28
Out-of-network provider	$306+

Frequently asked questions: ultrasound costs in North Carolina

How much does an ultrasound cost in North Carolina?

Across 66 North Carolina hospitals that publish prices, an ultrasound ranges from $51 to $2,765, with a median of $139. Most facilities fall between $88 and $194. 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 North Carolina?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our North Carolina data is CAREPARTNERS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL in Asheville at about $51. By metro, Winston-Salem has the lowest median ($102). 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 ultrasound so much cheaper at some North Carolina hospitals?

Prices vary up to 54.2× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In North Carolina, the median cash (self-pay) price is $143 versus a median negotiated rate of $36 - about 4× 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 ultrasound in North Carolina?

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

Other procedures in North Carolina

Ultrasound, elsewhere

Other North Carolina Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers for Ultrasound

These hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers are registered in the CMS National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry as active hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in North Carolina. Cost estimates use the bundled service model for each place of service. Contact them directly for a formal quote.

Provider

City

Type

Est. Cost

AIMEE L. SWAIN
6012600808

MONROE, NC

General Acute Care Hospital

$126–$910 bundled est.

ALISHA CART
3368030905

HIGH POINT, NC

General Acute Care Hospital

$126–$910 bundled est.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INC
3363725511

SPARTA, NC

Critical Access Hospital

$126–$910 bundled est.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INC
3363725511

SPARTA, NC

Critical Access Hospital

$126–$910 bundled est.