CT Scan Cost With and Without Insurance - Updated 2024

In the US, CT scans can cost anywhere from $231 to $1132, with the national average being $398. A CT scan, computerized tomography, is a medical scan used primarily for diagnostic purposes. A doctor can perform this scan for nearly every body part to help reach a diagnosis. CT scan costs can vary based on the body part being examined. Additional costs include whether or not the scan is with or without contrast.

How we produced this report: we pulled data from real patient bills within 25-mile radius by city for each procedure and aggregated them to produce the average cost. 

What's The Difference between CT Scan,  Xray, Ultrasound and MRI?

Think of medical imaging like different ways to see inside a mysterious box. 

• An X-ray is like shining a flashlight through the box, letting you see the outlines of solid objects, like bones. 
• An Ultrasound is like tapping on the box and listening to the echo; it's great for seeing soft things, like babies in a womb or the flow of blood. 
• An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses big magnets, so imagine it like feeling the box's contents with a magnetic hand, useful for detailed images of organs and tissues without radiation 
• A CT (Computed Tomography) scan, on the other hand, is like taking X-ray slices of the box from different angles and assembling them into a 3D picture, which can show detailed views of the inside, especially for complex areas like the brain or lungs.

Doctors might order a CT scan because it's a quick way to get a really clear and detailed picture of the inside of your body, which can be vital in emergencies or for specific conditions.

Average Out of Pocket Cost of a CT Scan 

The following values outline the difference between average outpatient and inpatient CT scan costs. National average: $398

The data reveals significant variations in pricing, with Dallas, TX, showing the highest average cost at $629.55, while Chicago, IL, offers the most affordable average at $295.81. These differences highlight the geographical disparities in medical pricing within the United States. Cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco also exhibit moderately high costs, indicating a potential correlation between city size or cost of living and the price of medical procedures like CT scans.

Head CT Scan Out of Pocket Cost 

This scan is typically used when a patient exhibits symptoms such as severe headaches, dizziness, changes in consciousness, or after a head injury, to diagnose conditions like strokes, tumors, brain injuries, and other neurological disorders.