X-Ray Cost in San Francisco, CA (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a x-ray cost in San Francisco, CA?

The same x-ray in San Francisco, CA might cost you $127 at one facility and $1,056 at another - the building you walk into drives the difference. The median cash price across 24 reporting hospitals is $288. These figures come straight from hospital price transparency files published under federal law.

Where x-ray costs vary in San Francisco, CA

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.

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. X-ray is the most commoditized of all imaging procedures, and price differences are almost entirely explained by facility type: a hospital outpatient chest X-ray can cost 5–10× more than the same study at an urgent care center or independent imaging clinic. For non-emergency X-rays, asking your physician for a referral to an outpatient imaging center rather than a hospital radiology department is the simplest and most reliable cost reduction available.

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Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $288 versus $160 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.

Frequently asked questions: X-ray costs in San Francisco, CA

How much does an X-ray cost in San Francisco, CA?

Across 24 San Francisco, CA hospitals that publish prices, an X-ray ranges from $99 to $1,071, with a median of $288. Most facilities fall between $126 and $1,056. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an X-ray in San Francisco, CA?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our San Francisco, CA data is California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hospital in San Francisco at about $99. By metro, Concord has the lowest median ($208). 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 X-ray so much cheaper at some San Francisco, CA hospitals?

Prices vary up to 10.8× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In San Francisco, CA, the median cash (self-pay) price is $288 versus a median negotiated rate of $46 - about 6.3× 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 an X-ray in San Francisco, 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.

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).