How much is a CT scan without insurance, by body part?
Without contrast, a CT of the head, sinuses or chest typically costs $210–$260 at an independent imaging center, while an abdomen and pelvis scan costs more ($360) because it covers a larger area. In a hospital outpatient department each of these scans costs 2.9–4.6 times the center price.[1][2]
| CT scan | Center, typical | Center range | Hospital, typical | Hospital range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Head, no contrast 70450 | $210 | $130–$320 | $730 | $430–$1,100 |
Sinuses, no contrast 70486 | $250 | $150–$380 | $730 | $440–$1,100 |
Chest, no contrast 71250 | $260 | $160–$390 | $780 | $460–$1,200 |
Chest, with contrast 71260 | $330 | $200–$500 | $1,200 | $700–$1,800 |
Abdomen and pelvis, no contrast 74176 | $360 | $220–$550 | $1,650 | $970–$2,450 |
Abdomen and pelvis, with contrast 74177 | $600 | $360–$890 | $2,250 | $1,350–$3,400 |
These are national figures. Medicare pays more in high-cost metro areas and less in rural ones, and the estimator above applies the adjustment for your locality.
Hospital or imaging center: why the hospital CT costs more
The hospital price is higher mainly because a hospital bills its own facility fee and the radiologist bills separately, while a freestanding center charges one fee for both. For a head CT (70450), Medicare's allowed amounts break down like this:
| Bill | Imaging center | Hospital outpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Scan and equipment | $105.72 (global fee, reading included) | $116.37 (APC 5522) |
| Radiologist reading | included | $38.83 |
| Total Medicare amount | $105.72 | $155.20 |
The hospital's facility payment alone ($116.37) is already more than the center's entire fee, and the reading fee comes on top. Beyond Medicare, hospital list and cash prices sit much further above Medicare's rates than center prices do, so we use a larger self-pay multiplier for hospital CT and MRI (see the methodology). Published data agree:
- In 2022 employer-plan claims, imaging prices at hospital outpatient departments were 2 to 4 times physician-office prices, and hospital CT prices averaged 257% of Medicare.[3]
- Hospitals' posted cash prices in July 2021 had a median of $1,037 for a head CT without contrast (middle half $595–$1,525) and $2,268 for an abdomen and pelvis CT with contrast.[4]
- For radiology, hospital cash prices were about the same as insurers' negotiated rates (median ratio 1.04), so a hospital's "self-pay" label does not guarantee a low price.[5]
CT with contrast vs without
A CT with contrast costs more because it is a separate procedure code that Medicare places in a higher payment level, especially in hospitals: for an abdomen and pelvis CT the hospital price rises about 36% when contrast is added. The contrast agent is a dye given by vein (and sometimes by mouth for belly scans) that makes blood vessels and organs stand out.
| Scan | Version | Code | Center | Hospital | Hospital facility rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | No contrast | 71250 | $260 | $780 | APC 5522: $116.37 |
| Chest | With contrast | 71260 | $330 | $1,200 | APC 5571: $196.70 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | No contrast | 74176 | $360 | $1,650 | APC 5523: $266.71 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | With contrast | 74177 | $600 | $2,250 | APC 5572: $393.93 |
Your order decides which code is billed, and only the ordering clinician can decide whether contrast is needed. When you call for quotes, read the code off the order so you compare the right scan.
A CT scan in the emergency room
A CT done during an ER visit is billed on top of the visit, so the total is far higher than an outpatient scan. A level 4 emergency visit alone typically costs about $1,000 self-pay (facility plus ER doctor); add a hospital abdomen and pelvis CT with contrast and the typical total is around $3,250, compared with $600 for the same scan booked at an imaging center. See what an ER visit costs without insurance.
That comparison is about planned scans only. An emergency department must screen and stabilize anyone with an emergency condition regardless of ability to pay, so never delay emergency care over price.[6]
Is a CT scan cheaper than an MRI?
Usually, yes. A head CT is about $210 at a center against $390 for a brain MRI, and $730 against $1,550 in a hospital. An abdomen and pelvis CT without contrast ($360 at a center) costs about the same as an abdominal MRI ($390). The two tests show different things, so the choice is clinical; our MRI cost guide has the full MRI price list.
What affects the price of a CT scan
| Factor | Effect | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital vs freestanding center | 2.9–4.6× higher in a hospital | Facility fee, separate reading fee, higher markups |
| Contrast | About +36% (abdomen/pelvis, hospital) | Different code and a higher hospital payment level |
| Area scanned | Abdomen and pelvis costs most | Larger area, more images to read |
| Done in the ER | Adds the whole ER visit | Emergency facility and physician fees are billed too |
| Your locality | Higher in big metro areas | Medicare's geographic cost indexes, applied by the estimator |
| Posted cash price | Varies hospital to hospital | Each hospital sets its own discounted cash price |
Ways to pay less for a CT scan
- Book planned scans outside the hospital. If your doctor orders a non-urgent CT, ask for a freestanding imaging center and confirm it does not bill as a hospital department.
- Look up the hospital's posted price. Hospitals must post a discounted cash price for shoppable services in a machine-readable file and a consumer list or tool; compare it with our range.[7]
- Ask for a good faith estimate that lists the scan, the contrast and the radiologist. Uninsured patients are entitled to one for scheduled care.[8] Read how good faith estimates work.
- Negotiate from the Medicare amount. Find your code in the Medicare fee schedule lookup, then counter with a multiple of it: how to negotiate medical bills.
- Bundle the visit. If you need a doctor to order the scan, a low-cost visit at a sliding scale clinic can keep that part of the bill small.
Simpler imaging can cost a fraction of a CT; see how much an X-ray costs and ultrasound prices.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a CT scan without insurance?
About $130–$550 at an independent imaging center and $430–$2,450 in a hospital outpatient department for a scan without contrast, at national prices. A contrast abdomen and pelvis CT is typically $600 at a center and $2,250 at a hospital.
Does the CT scan cost include the radiologist?
At an independent center the quoted global fee normally covers the radiologist's reading. At a hospital you usually get two bills, one from the hospital and one from the radiology group, so ask for both amounts.
Why does a CT with contrast cost more?
It is billed under a different code in a higher payment level. In a hospital, a chest CT moves from APC 5522 ($116.37 from Medicare) to APC 5571 ($196.70).[2]
Is a CT scan cheaper than an MRI without insurance?
Usually. A head CT is about $210 at a center and a brain MRI about $390. Which test you need is a decision for your doctor.
Sources
- PFS Relative Value Files: RVU27A (PPRRVU2027_Jan), released November 10, 2026
- CY 2027 OPPS/ASC final rule with comment period (CMS-1850-FC) and Addenda A and B
- Imaging Services are the Second Most Common Outpatient Service (issue brief)
- Comparison of US Hospital Cash Prices and Commercial Negotiated Prices for 70 Services (Jiang, Makary, Bai)
- The Relationships Among Cash Prices, Negotiated Rates, and Chargemaster Prices for Shoppable Hospital Services (Wang et al.)
- Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)
- 45 CFR Part 180: Hospital Price Transparency (§180.20 definitions, §180.60 shoppable services)
- Good faith estimate guide (No Surprises Act, uninsured and self-pay patients)