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Cash prices California Outpatient

CT scan cost in California without insurance

In California, the median cash price for CT abdomen and pelvis is $4,128.83 across 216 hospitals, from $377.67 to $44,564.21. The lowest is at St Mary Medical Center (Long Beach). The US median is $2,680.05.

California law (Health and Safety Code §127405): if you are uninsured or have high medical costs and your family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, a hospital may not expect you to pay more than it would expect from Medicare or Medi-Cal, whichever is greater. That can be less than the cash prices below; ask the hospital for its discount payment policy. A separate physician fee may still apply. Other states' laws.

A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to make cross-section pictures of the body, and because it is fast it is used often for injuries, bleeding and sudden abdominal pain. The price depends on the body area and on whether iodine contrast dye is used, and scheduled scans at freestanding imaging centers are often priced lower than the same scan at a hospital.

Collected Nov 8, 2026 One price per hospital: its lowest outpatient cash price for the code

CT scan prices in California by type

Match the code to your order: for the abdomen and pelvis, 74176 is without contrast (the usual kidney stone scan), 74177 is with contrast and is used in the state table, and 74178 is without and then with contrast. 71271 is the low-dose lung cancer screening scan and 75571 is the coronary calcium score, both meant for people without symptoms.

ProcedureHospitalsRangeMedianUS median
Head CT scan CT scan of the head or brain, no contrast dye · code 70450 215 $133.00–$19,447.54 $2,288.00 $1,200.38
CT abdomen and pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, with contrast dye · code 74177 216 $377.67–$44,564.21 $4,128.83 $2,680.05
CT abdomen/pelvis, no contrast CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, no contrast dye · code 74176 217 $271.00–$31,816.54 $3,202.00 $2,148.38
CT abdomen/pelvis with/without CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without and then with contrast dye · code 74178 216 $435.61–$40,053.86 $4,702.35 $3,074.64
Chest CT scan Diagnostic CT scan of the chest, no contrast dye · code 71250 217 $133.00–$22,591.87 $2,030.42 $1,253.88
Chest CT scan with contrast Diagnostic CT scan of the chest, with contrast dye · code 71260 216 $224.00–$24,660.97 $2,882.80 $1,584.00
Pelvic CT scan with contrast CT scan of the pelvis, with contrast dye · code 72193 215 $181.00–$20,570.52 $2,548.00 $1,601.88
Sinus CT scan CT scan of the face and sinuses, no contrast dye · code 70486 217 $133.00–$17,754.94 $2,184.00 $1,194.20
Neck (cervical spine) CT scan CT scan of the neck (cervical spine), no contrast dye · code 72125 204 $234.40–$20,952.44 $2,912.00 $1,410.83
Lung cancer screening CT Low-dose CT of the chest for lung cancer screening, no contrast dye · code 71271 181 $107.96–$5,690.00 $356.06 $380.16
Coronary calcium score CT CT of the heart without contrast dye to measure coronary calcium · code 75571 162 $55.40–$4,878.32 $376.73 $163.38
CT abdomen without contrast CT scan of the abdomen without contrast · code 74150 216 $133.00–$22,084.09 $1,908.75 $1,259.28
CT abdomen with contrast CT scan of the abdomen with contrast · code 74160 216 $199.00–$23,995.86 $2,520.00 $1,639.91
Head CT with contrast CT scan of the head with contrast · code 70460 216 $176.00–$23,063.85 $2,704.00 $1,425.00
Head CT without and with contrast CT scan of the head without and with contrast · code 70470 216 $199.00–$26,605.29 $3,090.75 $1,703.35
Chest CT angiogram CT angiography of the chest (CTA), for blood clots in the lungs · code 71275 218 $224.00–$22,436.72 $3,429.35 $1,906.50
Lumbar spine CT CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast · code 72131 205 $156.00–$21,070.70 $2,860.00 $1,397.59
Coronary CT angiography CT angiography of the heart arteries with contrast dye (coronary CTA), including calcium score · code 75574 152 $200.60–$11,680.91 $2,704.00 $1,383.62
Pelvic CT scan, no contrast Pelvic CT scan without contrast · code 72192 217 $133.00–$14,900.00 $1,961.25 $1,274.00
Neck CT scan Neck soft tissue CT scan without contrast · code 70490 216 $133.00–$22,124.24 $2,114.73 $1,199.04
Neck CT with contrast Neck soft tissue CT scan with contrast · code 70491 217 $224.00–$24,190.08 $2,734.50 $1,518.35
Thoracic spine CT Thoracic spine (mid back) CT scan without contrast · code 72128 204 $156.00–$17,358.00 $2,808.00 $1,345.87
Eye socket (orbit) CT Eye socket (orbit) CT scan without contrast · code 70480 210 $133.00–$31,322.87 $2,288.00 $1,201.75
Abdominal CT, with/without dye Abdominal CT scan without and with contrast · code 74170 217 $218.00–$28,397.71 $2,833.60 $1,906.90
Chest CT, with/without dye Chest CT scan without and with contrast · code 71270 214 $196.00–$25,540.90 $3,269.45 $1,849.00
Leg CT scan Leg CT scan without contrast (hip to foot, any part) · code 73700 190 $133.00–$20,355.69 $2,133.75 $1,207.94
Arm CT scan Arm CT scan without contrast (shoulder to hand, any part) · code 73200 191 $133.00–$17,869.95 $2,277.60 $1,224.05
Head CT angiogram (CTA) CT angiography (CTA) of the head · code 70496 217 $224.00–$22,436.72 $2,983.58 $1,826.89
Neck CT angiogram (CTA) CT angiography (CTA) of the neck · code 70498 217 $224.00–$22,436.72 $2,964.00 $1,836.87
Abdomen/pelvis CT angiogram CT angiography (CTA) of the abdomen and pelvis · code 74174 209 $339.00–$33,658.87 $5,408.00 $2,671.00
Procedure The service and its billing code (CPT or HCPCS). Opens the comparison of every hospital that prices it. More
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Middle 80% Cash prices of most hospitals: a tenth of hospitals charge less than the first number (P10), a tenth charge more than the second (P90). More
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
US median The median cash price across all US hospitals that publish one for this code.

Outpatient cash prices in California. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest cash price for the code; prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Pick a procedure to compare every hospital in the state.

Lowest CT abdomen and pelvis prices in California

CT scan cost by metro area in California

CT scan cost in other states

Paying cash: what to do

  • Check whether your order says with, without, or without and with contrast; each is a different code with its own price.
  • Ask whether the contrast dye is billed as a separate pharmacy charge and whether the radiologist's reading is included.
  • For a contrast scan, ask whether a kidney function blood test is required beforehand and whether it is included in the quote.