How Much Does MRI Scan Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$400
Average
$1,200
High End
$3,500
per scan
What Does MRI Scan Include?
An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of organs, tissues, and skeletal structures for diagnostic purposes.
The national average cost for mri scan is $1,200 per scan. Most homeowners pay between $400 and $3,500, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
Body Part
Brain: $1,000-$3,000. Knee: $800-$2,500. Spine: $1,000-$3,500. Shoulder: $800-$2,500
Contrast
MRI with contrast adds $200-$500 for the contrast agent
Facility
Hospital: $1,500-$3,500. Independent center: $400-$1,200
Key Cost Factors
- ✓Body part being scanned
- ✓With or without contrast
- ✓Facility type
- ✓Insurance coverage
- ✓Geographic location
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Independent imaging centers charge 50-80% less than hospitals
- 2.Ask for self-pay or cash-pay discounts
- 3.Check if your insurance requires pre-authorization
- 4.Compare prices on healthcare price transparency tools
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📈 MRI Scan Cost Trends (2022–2026)
Prices have increased +17.8% over the last 5 years
$1,019
2022
$1,062
2023
$1,131
2024
$1,163
2025
$1,200
2026
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $1,019 | — |
| 2023 | $1,062 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $1,131 | +6.5% |
| 2025 | $1,163 | +2.8% |
| 2026 | $1,200 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
MRI Scan Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $328 | $984 | $2,870 |
| Alaska | $512 | $1,536 | $4,480 |
| Arizona | $380 | $1,140 | $3,325 |
| Arkansas | $320 | $960 | $2,800 |
| California | $540 | $1,620 | $4,725 |
| Colorado | $432 | $1,296 | $3,780 |
| Connecticut | $488 | $1,464 | $4,270 |
| Delaware | $420 | $1,260 | $3,675 |
| District of Columbia | $500 | $1,500 | $4,375 |
| Florida | $392 | $1,176 | $3,430 |
| Georgia | $360 | $1,080 | $3,150 |
| Hawaii | $568 | $1,704 | $4,970 |
| Idaho | $368 | $1,104 | $3,220 |
| Illinois | $420 | $1,260 | $3,675 |
| Indiana | $352 | $1,056 | $3,080 |
| Iowa | $344 | $1,032 | $3,010 |
| Kansas | $340 | $1,020 | $2,975 |
| Kentucky | $336 | $1,008 | $2,940 |
| Louisiana | $348 | $1,044 | $3,045 |
| Maine | $408 | $1,224 | $3,570 |
| Maryland | $460 | $1,380 | $4,025 |
| Massachusetts | $520 | $1,560 | $4,550 |
| Michigan | $368 | $1,104 | $3,220 |
| Minnesota | $408 | $1,224 | $3,570 |
| Mississippi | $312 | $936 | $2,730 |
| Missouri | $348 | $1,044 | $3,045 |
| Montana | $380 | $1,140 | $3,325 |
| Nebraska | $352 | $1,056 | $3,080 |
| Nevada | $408 | $1,224 | $3,570 |
| New Hampshire | $448 | $1,344 | $3,920 |
| New Jersey | $500 | $1,500 | $4,375 |
| New Mexico | $360 | $1,080 | $3,150 |
| New York | $528 | $1,584 | $4,620 |
| North Carolina | $360 | $1,080 | $3,150 |
| North Dakota | $360 | $1,080 | $3,150 |
| Ohio | $360 | $1,080 | $3,150 |
| Oklahoma | $332 | $996 | $2,905 |
| Oregon | $440 | $1,320 | $3,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $408 | $1,224 | $3,570 |
| Rhode Island | $460 | $1,380 | $4,025 |
| South Carolina | $348 | $1,044 | $3,045 |
| South Dakota | $340 | $1,020 | $2,975 |
| Tennessee | $344 | $1,032 | $3,010 |
| Texas | $372 | $1,116 | $3,255 |
| Utah | $380 | $1,140 | $3,325 |
| Vermont | $432 | $1,296 | $3,780 |
| Virginia | $420 | $1,260 | $3,675 |
| Washington | $460 | $1,380 | $4,025 |
| West Virginia | $320 | $960 | $2,800 |
| Wisconsin | $376 | $1,128 | $3,290 |
| Wyoming | $368 | $1,104 | $3,220 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover MRI?
Most insurance covers medically necessary MRIs, but you may need pre-authorization. Your copay/coinsurance will vary by plan.
How long does an MRI take?
Most MRI scans take 30-60 minutes. Some complex scans can take up to 90 minutes.
🏙️ MRI Scan Cost by City
Compare mri scan costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$1,740
Los Angeles
CA
$1,656
Chicago
IL
$1,380
Houston
TX
$1,140
Phoenix
AZ
$1,176
Philadelphia
PA
$1,344
San Antonio
TX
$1,056
San Diego
CA
$1,584
Dallas
TX
$1,224
San Jose
CA
$1,824
Austin
TX
$1,260
Jacksonville
FL
$1,104
Fort Worth
TX
$1,140
Columbus
OH
$1,080
Charlotte
NC
$1,140
Indianapolis
IN
$1,056
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$1,860
Seattle, WA
$1,560
Denver, CO
$1,380
Washington D.C., DC
$1,620
Nashville, TN
$1,200
Oklahoma City, OK
$984
El Paso, TX
$984
Boston, MA
$1,680
Portland, OR
$1,416
Las Vegas, NV
$1,224
Memphis, TN
$984
Louisville, KY
$1,020
Baltimore, MD
$1,320
Milwaukee, WI
$1,104
Albuquerque, NM
$1,056
Tucson, AZ
$1,056
Fresno, CA
$1,260
Sacramento, CA
$1,416
Mesa, AZ
$1,140
Kansas City, MO
$1,080
Atlanta, GA
$1,260
Omaha, NE
$1,056
Colorado Springs, CO
$1,224
Raleigh, NC
$1,176
Long Beach, CA
$1,620
Virginia Beach, VA
$1,260
Miami, FL
$1,440
Oakland, CA
$1,740
Minneapolis, MN
$1,296
Tampa, FL
$1,224
Tulsa, OK
$984
Arlington, TX
$1,140
New Orleans, LA
$1,140
Pittsburgh, PA
$1,140
St. Louis, MO
$1,056
Bakersfield, CA
$1,224
Anaheim, CA
$1,620
Honolulu, HI
$1,800
Santa Ana, CA
$1,584
Riverside, CA
$1,380
Corpus Christi, TX
$1,020
Lexington, KY
$1,056
Stockton, CA
$1,320
Henderson, NV
$1,224
St. Paul, MN
$1,260
Cincinnati, OH
$1,056
Anchorage, AK
$1,536
Greensboro, NC
$1,056
Plano, TX
$1,260
Newark, NJ
$1,500
Lincoln, NE
$1,020
Orlando, FL
$1,224
Irvine, CA
$1,680
Durham, NC
$1,140
Chula Vista, CA
$1,536
Toledo, OH
$984
Fort Wayne, IN
$984
Jersey City, NJ
$1,620
St. Petersburg, FL
$1,224
Laredo, TX
$960
Madison, WI
$1,176
Chandler, AZ
$1,176
Buffalo, NY
$1,104
Lubbock, TX
$984
Scottsdale, AZ
$1,344
Reno, NV
$1,260
Glendale, AZ
$1,140
Gilbert, AZ
$1,224
Winston-Salem, NC
$1,020
North Las Vegas, NV
$1,176
Norfolk, VA
$1,176
Chesapeake, VA
$1,224
Irving, TX
$1,200
Fremont, CA
$1,740
Richmond, VA
$1,176
Boise, ID
$1,176
San Bernardino, CA
$1,296
Spokane, WA
$1,140
Des Moines, IA
$1,020
Tacoma, WA
$1,380
Modesto, CA
$1,260
Fontana, CA
$1,320
Moreno Valley, CA
$1,296
Fayetteville, NC
$1,020
Birmingham, AL
$984
Rochester, NY
$1,104
Salt Lake City, UT
$1,260
Oxnard, CA
$1,464
Knoxville, TN
$1,020
Worcester, MA
$1,380
Brownsville, TX
$936
Grand Rapids, MI
$1,080
Newport News, VA
$1,140
Huntsville, AL
$1,020
Amarillo, TX
$984
Little Rock, AR
$984
Montgomery, AL
$960
Akron, OH
$984
Augusta, GA
$984
Baton Rouge, LA
$1,020
Mobile, AL
$960
Shreveport, LA
$960
Tallahassee, FL
$1,080
Hartford, CT
$1,380
Providence, RI
$1,344
Charleston, SC
$1,176
Savannah, GA
$1,056
Columbia, SC
$1,020
Chattanooga, TN
$1,020
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$1,416
Dayton, OH
$984
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,020
Springfield, MO
$960
Jackson, MS
$936
Palm Bay, FL
$1,140
Lakeland, FL
$1,104
Cape Coral, FL
$1,176
Pensacola, FL
$1,056
Port St. Lucie, FL
$1,176
Naperville, IL
$1,380
Tempe, AZ
$1,200
Overland Park, KS
$1,140
McKinney, TX
$1,224
Frisco, TX
$1,260
Cary, NC
$1,224
Clarksville, TN
$1,020
Cedar Rapids, IA
$984
Peoria, AZ
$1,176
Surprise, AZ
$1,140
Denton, TX
$1,176
Roseville, CA
$1,380
Gainesville, FL
$1,056
Bellevue, WA
$1,680
Murfreesboro, TN
$1,104
Round Rock, TX
$1,224
Columbia, MD
$1,380
Boulder, CO
$1,500
Ann Arbor, MI
$1,320
Santa Fe, NM
$1,260
Wilmington, NC
$1,104
Greenville, SC
$1,056
Fargo, ND
$1,020
Provo, UT
$1,176
Duluth, MN
$1,056
Billings, MT
$1,104
Missoula, MT
$1,176
Cheyenne, WY
$1,056
Burlington, VT
$1,296
Portland, ME
$1,296
Concord, NH
$1,260
Bismarck, ND
$1,020
Rapid City, SD
$1,020
Casper, WY
$1,056
Bangor, ME
$1,140
Charleston, WV
$960
Dover, DE
$1,176
Manchester, NH
$1,296
Bridgeport, CT
$1,440
Stamford, CT
$1,620
Wichita, KS
$984
Topeka, KS
$960
Springfield, IL
$1,020
Rockford, IL
$1,020
Erie, PA
$984
Scranton, PA
$1,020
Flint, MI
$936
Lansing, MI
$1,020
Syracuse, NY
$1,056
Albany, NY
$1,140
Eugene, OR
$1,260
Salem, OR
$1,224
Fort Collins, CO
$1,320
Pueblo, CO
$1,020
Aurora, CO
$1,296
Santa Barbara, CA
$1,680
Santa Rosa, CA
$1,536
Pasadena, CA
$1,656
Visalia, CA
$1,200
Pomona, CA
$1,416
Myrtle Beach, SC
$1,056
Daytona Beach, FL
$1,104
Sarasota, FL
$1,260
Naples, FL
$1,416
Ocala, FL
$1,020
Athens, GA
$1,020
Macon, GA
$960
Lexington, SC
$1,020
Asheville, NC
$1,224
Flagstaff, AZ
$1,296
Rochester, NY
$1,104
New Haven, CT
$1,296
Manchester, NH
$1,260
Augusta, GA
$984
Fort Myers, FL
$1,176
Wilmington, NC
$1,140
Arlington, VA
$1,560
Green Bay, WI
$1,020
South Bend, IN
$984
Bend, OR
$1,344
Bellingham, WA
$1,320
Midland, TX
$1,140
Waco, TX
$984
Newark, NJ
$1,440
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for MRI Scan
$1,211
Avg Reported
$848
Lowest Reported
$1,756
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$972
Dallas, TX · Jan 2026
★★★☆☆
$1,361
Chicago, IL · Feb 2026
★★★★☆
$1,003
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2026
★★★★★
$1,478
Denver, CO · Apr 2026
★★★☆☆
$1,049
Atlanta, GA · May 2026
★★★★☆
$1,581
Seattle, WA · Jun 2026
★★★★★
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