Hospital price data · October 2026 files
Hospitals can't agree on a price for the same procedure. Look yours up.
For the typical common procedure, the middle 80% of hospitals' published cash prices span about 9x. Pick a procedure and your state to see where hospitals land.
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Source: CostKits Hospital Price Variability Explorer, hospital price files, October 2026. Published prices, not what you will pay.
Is paying cash cheaper than using insurance? Compare each hospital's cash price with its insurer rate in the Cash vs. Insurance Explorer. Want to see which states run high and low? Open the Hospital Price Atlas. Or ask the data a question.
Get the Hospital Price Spread Report (free PDF)
The price gaps behind this page for 20 common procedures, the states at both ends, and the questions to ask before you book.
- The biggest gaps between hospitals, with real numbers
- How cash and insured prices compare
- A short script for asking for a price in advance
Every code in this procedure
| Service | Hospitals | Low | Median | High | Spread |
|---|
Each code is its own comparison; codes are never pooled. "Low" and "high" are the 10th and 90th percentile of hospitals. Click a row to see that code's hospitals.
Hospitals in this view
| Hospital | City | State | vs. median |
|---|
Click a row to mark it on the chart. See a wrong or missing price? Email hello@costkits.com with the hospital and code and we will check it against the source file.
Hospital prices for 64 common procedures
The typical U.S. hospital's published price for each procedure, compared one billing code at a time, with the gap between low-priced and high-priced hospitals. Select a name to open it in the tool above, or see state-by-state prices on the procedure's page. Cash price is what a hospital lists for patients paying without insurance; insured price is the median of its listed commercial insurer rates. Outpatient prices, hospitals with a published price for the code.
| Procedure | Median cash price | Median insured price | Cash price, middle 80% | Hospitals | Spread | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1C blood test CPT 83036: Hemoglobin A1c (blood sugar) test | $64 | $28 | $20 to $179 | 3,565 | 8.9x | By state |
| ACL surgery CPT 29888: ACL knee ligament reconstruction, arthroscopic | $7,411 | $8,570 | $1,618 to $33,597 | 1,004 | 21x | By state |
| Appendectomy CPT 44970: Appendix removal, laparoscopic | $4,395 | $7,637 | $905 to $20,211 | 1,217 | 22x | By state |
| Blood count (CBC) CPT 85027: Complete blood count (CBC), automated | $54 | $21 | $16 to $168 | 3,466 | 11x | By state |
| Bone density test CPT 77080: Bone density scan (DXA) | $364 | $227 | $125 to $904 | 3,154 | 7.2x | By state |
| Brain MRI CPT 70551: MRI of the brain, no contrast | $1,869 | $895 | $566 to $5,481 | 3,437 | 9.7x | By state |
| Breast biopsy CPT 19083: Breast biopsy, ultrasound guided (first lesion) | $2,389 | $2,715 | $889 to $5,341 | 2,449 | 6.0x | By state |
| Bunion surgery CPT 28296: Bunion surgery with bone cut near the toe end | $3,550 | $4,685 | $932 to $14,886 | 994 | 16x | By state |
| Carpal tunnel surgery CPT 64721: Carpal tunnel release, open | $2,573 | $3,118 | $690 to $8,728 | 1,386 | 13x | By state |
| Cataract surgery CPT 66984: Standard cataract surgery with lens implant | $3,000 | $4,115 | $1,012 to $8,624 | 907 | 8.5x | By state |
| Chemo infusion CPT 96413: Chemotherapy infusion, first hour | $630 | $577 | $260 to $1,514 | 2,920 | 5.8x | By state |
| Childbirth CPT 59409: Vaginal delivery only | $2,760 | $3,732 | $1,054 to $7,454 | 2,027 | 7.1x | By state |
| Cholecystectomy CPT 47562: Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | $5,695 | $8,289 | $1,039 to $19,915 | 1,300 | 19x | By state |
| Cholesterol test CPT 80061: Cholesterol panel (lipid blood test) | $92 | $37 | $26 to $291 | 3,501 | 11x | By state |
| Colonoscopy CPT 45378: Colonoscopy, exam only | $1,616 | $1,800 | $507 to $4,118 | 2,034 | 8.1x | By state |
| Cortisone shot CPT 20610: Joint injection or draw, large joint like knee or shoulder (no ultrasound) | $482 | $553 | $160 to $1,482 | 3,250 | 9.3x | By state |
| CT scan (all) CPT 71260: CT scan of the chest, with contrast | $1,573 | $756 | $515 to $4,879 | 3,558 | 9.5x | By state |
| CT scan, abdomen CPT 74160: CT scan of the abdomen, with contrast | $1,626 | $778 | $532 to $4,755 | 3,534 | 8.9x | By state |
| CT scan, chest CPT 71260: CT scan of the chest, with contrast | $1,573 | $756 | $515 to $4,879 | 3,558 | 9.5x | By state |
| CT scan, head CPT 70470: CT scan of the head, without then with contrast | $1,724 | $742 | $569 to $5,305 | 3,513 | 9.3x | By state |
| Cystoscopy CPT 52000: Cystoscopy (bladder scope) | $1,177 | $1,354 | $329 to $5,512 | 2,063 | 17x | By state |
| D&C CPT 58120: Dilation and curettage (D&C) | $3,132 | $4,084 | $511 to $8,766 | 1,270 | 17x | By state |
| Deviated septum surgery CPT 30520: Deviated septum repair (septoplasty) | $3,544 | $4,680 | $857 to $14,351 | 978 | 17x | By state |
| Doppler ultrasound CPT 93970: Leg vein ultrasound, both legs | $960 | $691 | $344 to $2,458 | 3,528 | 7.1x | By state |
| Ear tubes CPT 69436: Ear tube insertion under anesthesia | $2,028 | $2,868 | $305 to $7,478 | 919 | 24x | By state |
| Echocardiogram CPT 93306: Echocardiogram, complete with Doppler | $1,624 | $1,247 | $583 to $4,221 | 3,395 | 7.2x | By state |
| Emergency room visit CPT 99285: ER visit, level 5 (most serious) | $1,501 | $1,316 | $462 to $5,085 | 3,450 | 11x | By state |
| Endoscopy CPT 43235: Upper endoscopy (EGD), exam only | $1,491 | $1,717 | $402 to $4,122 | 2,142 | 10x | By state |
| Epidural injection CPT 62323: Lower-back epidural steroid injection (imaging guided) | $1,370 | $1,474 | $473 to $3,714 | 2,477 | 7.9x | By state |
| Eye injection CPT 67028: Injection into the eye | $560 | $756 | $160 to $1,644 | 892 | 10x | By state |
| Facet injection CPT 64493: Facet joint injection, lower back (imaging guided) | $1,579 | $1,717 | $494 to $4,350 | 2,364 | 8.8x | By state |
| Glaucoma laser CPT 65855: Laser treatment for glaucoma | $940 | $1,322 | $303 to $2,720 | 656 | 9.0x | By state |
| Hearing test CPT 92552: Hearing test, pure-tone | $108 | $151 | $36 to $313 | 1,261 | 8.7x | By state |
| Heart catheterization CPT 93458: Heart artery imaging with left heart catheterization | $9,178 | $7,893 | $3,268 to $26,919 | 1,914 | 8.2x | By state |
| Hernia repair CPT 49505: Inguinal hernia repair, open (age 5 and up) | $4,059 | $5,230 | $813 to $16,225 | 1,400 | 20x | By state |
| Hip replacement CPT 27130: Total hip replacement | $8,422 | $15,470 | $1,892 to $39,834 | 976 | 21x | By state |
| Home sleep test CPT 95806: Home sleep apnea test | $513 | $424 | $180 to $1,324 | 1,990 | 7.4x | By state |
| Hysterectomy CPT 58552: Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, with ovary and tube removal | $6,702 | $11,046 | $1,330 to $27,369 | 881 | 21x | By state |
| Hysteroscopy CPT 58558: Hysteroscopy with biopsy or polyp removal | $3,762 | $4,594 | $695 to $12,253 | 1,182 | 18x | By state |
| IV infusion CPT 96365: IV infusion for therapy, first hour | $406 | $372 | $165 to $1,082 | 3,493 | 6.6x | By state |
| Knee arthroscopy CPT 29881: Knee arthroscopy, meniscus removal (one side) | $3,821 | $5,026 | $874 to $14,130 | 1,187 | 16x | By state |
| Knee MRI CPT 73721: MRI of a leg joint (knee, hip or ankle), no contrast | $1,902 | $983 | $584 to $5,307 | 3,269 | 9.1x | By state |
| Knee replacement CPT 27447: Total knee replacement | $8,511 | $15,622 | $1,969 to $38,960 | 1,025 | 20x | By state |
| Lung function test CPT 94010: Spirometry (breathing test) | $242 | $267 | $84 to $656 | 3,314 | 7.8x | By state |
| Mammogram CPT 77067: Screening mammogram, both breasts | $281 | $230 | $111 to $716 | 3,053 | 6.5x | By state |
| Metabolic panel CPT 80053: Comprehensive metabolic panel (blood test) | $125 | $33 | $32 to $390 | 3,337 | 12x | By state |
| MRI (all body parts) CPT 70551: MRI of the brain, no contrast | $1,869 | $895 | $566 to $5,481 | 3,437 | 9.7x | By state |
| Nuclear stress test CPT 78452: Nuclear heart stress test, multiple studies | $3,263 | $2,329 | $1,285 to $8,561 | 3,032 | 6.7x | By state |
| Ovarian cyst removal CPT 58661: Laparoscopic removal of ovaries, tubes or ovarian mass | $5,682 | $8,019 | $1,095 to $23,016 | 1,044 | 21x | By state |
| Pacemaker surgery CPT 33208: Pacemaker insertion, both chambers | $14,320 | $15,392 | $4,765 to $38,031 | 1,793 | 8.0x | By state |
| PET scan CPT 78815: PET/CT scan, skull base to mid-thigh | $4,711 | $3,426 | $1,830 to $10,933 | 2,111 | 6.0x | By state |
| Physical therapy CPT 97161: Physical therapy evaluation, low complexity | $209 | $187 | $93 to $503 | 3,446 | 5.4x | By state |
| Prostate biopsy CPT 55700: Prostate biopsy, needle | $2,267 | $2,853 | $426 to $7,720 | 1,496 | 18x | By state |
| Rotator cuff surgery CPT 29827: Rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic | $5,624 | $8,628 | $1,451 to $28,763 | 1,060 | 20x | By state |
| Sinus surgery CPT 31256: Sinus surgery, maxillary opening | $2,624 | $5,280 | $332 to $14,851 | 807 | 45x | By state |
| Sleep study CPT 95810: Overnight sleep study in a lab (age 6 and up) | $3,016 | $2,227 | $1,072 to $6,761 | 2,502 | 6.3x | By state |
| Spinal fusion CPT 22551: Neck spinal fusion, front approach, with disc removal | $8,533 | $13,496 | $2,107 to $40,245 | 738 | 19x | By state |
| Thyroid test CPT 84443: Thyroid (TSH) blood test | $97 | $43 | $32 to $265 | 3,517 | 8.3x | By state |
| Tonsillectomy CPT 42826: Tonsil removal only, age 12 and up | $3,277 | $4,677 | $451 to $10,738 | 869 | 24x | By state |
| Treadmill stress test CPT 93017: Treadmill stress test, tracing only | $820 | $623 | $276 to $2,345 | 3,174 | 8.5x | By state |
| Ultrasound CPT 76705: Abdominal ultrasound, limited | $522 | $318 | $175 to $1,389 | 3,518 | 7.9x | By state |
| Vasectomy CPT 55250: Vasectomy | $1,880 | $3,089 | $464 to $6,259 | 1,218 | 13x | By state |
| X-ray (all) CPT 71046: Chest X-ray, 2 views | $257 | $182 | $96 to $791 | 3,642 | 8.2x | By state |
| YAG laser surgery CPT 66821: YAG laser after cataract surgery | $984 | $1,340 | $367 to $2,705 | 932 | 7.4x | By state |
How to read this
Each dot of the chart is one hospital. The bars show how many hospitals fall at each price (the scale is logarithmic, so each step to the right is a multiple, not a fixed amount). The shaded band is the middle 80% of hospitals, from the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread is the 90th-percentile price divided by the 10th.
What these prices are, and are not
- Cash price is the discounted cash price a hospital publishes for the service. Insured (commercial) is the median of the rates the hospital lists for commercial insurers. Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, TRICARE and workers' compensation rates are left out.
- They are published prices, not what you will pay. Your cost depends on your plan, deductible, coinsurance and network. A listed insurer rate is not your plan's rate.
- Hospital files may list the facility charge only. Separate bills, such as a radiologist's reading, may come on top. We do not assume they are included.
- Each hospital counts once per code and setting. If a hospital lists several rates, we use its median. Rates under $5 and placeholder values are dropped, and so is any price under one-tenth of the national median for that code, which is almost always a placeholder rather than a real price.
Where the data comes from
Federal rules require hospitals to publish a machine-readable file of their prices. CostKits reads those files every month and matches each price to a standard procedure code. This page uses the October 2026 files. The plain-language names are written by CostKits and are not official code descriptors; always confirm the code with your provider. The percentile and spread calculations use only hospitals with a published price for the code.
Hospital price questions
How much does a brain MRI cost at a hospital?
Across 3,437 U.S. hospitals that published a cash price for CPT 70551 (MRI of the brain, no contrast), the median is $1,869. The middle 80% of hospitals charge between $566 and $5,481, a 9.7x gap, and the full range runs from $185 to $19,609. These are published prices, not what a particular patient pays.
Why do hospital prices vary so much for the same procedure?
Hospitals set their own prices and negotiate with each insurer separately, so two hospitals can list very different amounts for the same billing code. Some of the gap is real (what the hospital chooses to charge and what insurers agree to pay), and some is how each hospital reports. Use the spread column in the table above to see how wide the gap is for each procedure.
Is the cash price lower than the insured price?
Sometimes. Of 64 procedures that have both, the median hospital cash price is lower than the median commercial insurer rate for 36. That does not mean paying cash is better for you: insured patients pay their plan's rate, which depends on the deductible, coinsurance and network, and a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible.
Where do these hospital prices come from?
Federal rules require hospitals to post a machine-readable file listing their prices, including cash prices and the rates negotiated with each insurer. CostKits reads those files every month and matches each price to a standard procedure (CPT) code. This page uses the October 2026 files.
Are these the prices I will pay?
No. Your cost depends on your plan, deductible, coinsurance and whether the hospital is in your network. Facility prices may also exclude separate bills, such as a radiologist's reading. Use the numbers to ask better questions and to get a written estimate.
How can I find out what a specific hospital charges?
Pick the procedure and your state in the tool above to see each hospital's published price, then open the procedure's page for state-by-state prices. Call the hospital's billing office with the CPT code and ask for a written estimate. If you are uninsured or paying cash, you can request a good faith estimate.
Why do prices differ so much for the same code?
Hospitals set prices on their own, negotiate with each insurer separately, and publish different kinds of rates. Part of the spread reflects real differences in what hospitals charge. Part reflects how they report. Neither tells you the quality of care.
Does a lower price mean I should go there?
Not by itself. Quality, distance, whether the hospital is in your insurance network, and what is bundled in the price all matter. Use the price as a question to ask: "Why is this hospital's price different?"
Can I use or embed these charts?
Yes. Use the buttons under the chart to copy a link, download an image, or embed the chart. Please keep the source credit in place.
Data: hospital price transparency files, October 2026, processed by CostKits. Full methodology. Questions: hello@costkits.com. See also the procedure cost pages for state-by-state prices.