SelfPayRates
Cash prices California Outpatient

X-ray cost in California without insurance

In California, the median cash price for Chest X-ray is $407.33 across 218 hospitals, from $48.00 to $2,704.91. The lowest is at Southern Monterey County Memorial Hospital (King City). The US median is $246.50.

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.

An X-ray takes quick pictures of bones and the chest and is usually the first imaging test for an injury, joint pain or a cough. The price is set by the body part and the number of views, and the radiologist who reads the images often bills separately from the facility that takes them.

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

X-ray prices in California by type

Each code names a body part and a minimum number of views: 71046 is a two-view chest X-ray and is used in the state table, 71045 is a single view, and joint codes such as 73562 (knee, three views) cover one side only. Imaging both knees or both wrists is usually billed as two exams.

ProcedureHospitalsRangeMedianUS median
Chest X-ray Chest X-ray, 2 views · code 71046 218 $48.00–$2,704.91 $407.33 $246.50
Chest X-ray, 1 view Chest X-ray, single view · code 71045 218 $45.36–$2,053.16 $364.00 $201.32
Lower back X-ray X-ray of the lower back, 4 or more views · code 72110 215 $66.56–$2,963.25 $652.00 $423.44
Knee X-ray Knee X-ray, 3 views · code 73562 188 $55.40–$3,183.39 $459.20 $273.65
Ankle X-ray Ankle X-ray, complete, 3 or more views · code 73610 191 $30.00–$3,000.03 $514.50 $274.00
Wrist X-ray Wrist X-ray, complete, 3 or more views · code 73110 192 $50.00–$2,733.12 $502.95 $266.40
Shoulder X-ray Shoulder X-ray, complete, 2 or more views · code 73030 192 $49.50–$2,648.49 $551.80 $278.38
Foot X-ray X-ray of the foot, complete, 3 or more views · code 73630 191 $45.00–$3,007.62 $494.10 $266.54
Hip X-ray X-ray of one hip, 2 or 3 views, with the pelvis when included · code 73502 191 $55.40–$3,314.91 $402.00 $254.75
Lower back X-ray X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine), 2 or 3 views · code 72100 218 $56.25–$3,359.23 $471.04 $303.00
Abdominal X-ray X-ray of the abdomen, 1 view · code 74018 217 $36.08–$1,601.00 $304.15 $230.00
Neck X-ray X-ray of the neck (cervical spine), 2 or 3 views · code 72040 218 $55.00–$2,899.12 $450.43 $280.40
Mid back X-ray X-ray of the mid back (thoracic spine), 2 views · code 72070 209 $60.00–$3,543.61 $462.02 $278.20
Pelvis X-ray X-ray of the pelvis, 1 or 2 views · code 72170 217 $41.25–$2,092.97 $385.05 $247.52
Tailbone X-ray X-ray of the tailbone (sacrum and coccyx), 2 or more views · code 72220 217 $47.25–$2,623.53 $470.00 $257.15
Knee X-ray (1-2 views) X-ray of the knee, 1 or 2 views · code 73560 191 $55.40–$1,978.80 $396.90 $232.64
Ankle X-ray (2 views) X-ray of the ankle, 2 views · code 73600 191 $53.60–$1,786.92 $392.25 $225.00
Foot X-ray (2 views) X-ray of the foot, 2 views · code 73620 191 $23.11–$1,567.83 $405.30 $213.16
Hand X-ray X-ray of the hand, 3 or more views · code 73130 193 $45.00–$2,623.53 $508.50 $270.60
Finger X-ray X-ray of the finger(s), 2 or more views · code 73140 192 $25.00–$2,026.78 $365.01 $207.71
Nose X-ray X-ray of the nasal bones, 3 or more views · code 70160 217 $45.00–$5,947.00 $432.43 $247.90
DEXA bone density scan DEXA bone density scan of the hip, pelvis or spine · code 77080 169 $59.20–$1,259.00 $504.00 $370.30
Peripheral bone density scan DEXA bone density scan of the wrist, heel or finger (peripheral) · code 77081 145 $49.25–$991.69 $276.64 $192.88
Lower leg X-ray Lower leg X-ray (tibia and fibula), 2 views · code 73590 192 $45.00–$3,270.19 $432.60 $245.67
Upper arm X-ray Upper arm X-ray (humerus), 2 views · code 73060 193 $50.00–$2,940.35 $427.35 $243.15
Forearm X-ray Forearm X-ray (radius and ulna), 2 views · code 73090 192 $30.00–$3,058.62 $427.40 $238.68
Elbow X-ray (2 views) Elbow X-ray, 2 views · code 73070 190 $30.00–$2,345.77 $397.80 $222.75
Elbow X-ray Elbow X-ray, complete, 3 or more views · code 73080 192 $50.00–$3,079.23 $484.00 $266.93
Wrist X-ray (2 views) Wrist X-ray, 2 views · code 73100 191 $55.40–$1,614.48 $389.25 $218.50
Hand X-ray (2 views) Hand X-ray, 2 views · code 73120 191 $53.60–$2,032.21 $407.00 $225.13
Collarbone X-ray Collarbone (clavicle) X-ray, complete · code 73000 191 $53.60–$2,447.76 $484.00 $237.66
Thigh (femur) X-ray Thigh bone (femur) X-ray, 2 or more views · code 73552 189 $45.36–$2,692.97 $407.54 $250.24
Toe X-ray Toe X-ray, 2 or more views · code 73660 192 $40.00–$1,639.38 $330.40 $201.60
Heel X-ray Heel bone (calcaneus) X-ray, 2 or more views · code 73650 187 $53.60–$1,978.80 $352.80 $217.98
Knee X-ray (4+ views) Knee X-ray, complete, 4 or more views · code 73564 190 $60.00–$3,983.04 $585.75 $327.36
Neck X-ray (4-5 views) Neck (cervical spine) X-ray, 4 or 5 views · code 72050 215 $66.56–$4,534.22 $644.70 $390.31
Abdominal X-ray (2 views) Abdominal X-ray, 2 views · code 74019 210 $51.00–$2,206.89 $431.25 $286.73
Facial bones X-ray Facial bones X-ray, complete, 3 or more views · code 70150 217 $57.55–$4,246.00 $494.00 $328.78
Skull X-ray Skull X-ray, fewer than 4 views · code 70250 216 $55.00–$2,229.87 $406.04 $267.15
Sinus X-ray Sinus X-ray, complete, 3 or more views · code 70220 218 $53.66–$4,341.09 $457.01 $305.68
Soft tissue neck X-ray Neck soft tissue X-ray · code 70360 218 $40.00–$2,321.90 $325.08 $219.00
Rib X-ray Rib X-ray, one side, 2 views · code 71100 183 $38.79–$3,100.93 $462.80 $255.50
Rib and chest X-ray Rib X-ray, one side, with a chest view, 3 or more views · code 71101 185 $60.75–$3,802.93 $616.00 $324.26
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 Chest X-ray prices in California

X-ray cost by metro area in California

X-ray cost in other states

Paying cash: what to do

  • Ask for the self-pay price for the exact code on your order, since the number of views changes the code.
  • Ask whether the radiologist's reading is included; if not, ask the radiology group for its self-pay rate as well.
  • Many urgent care centers and independent imaging centers take X-rays on site, often at lower prices than a hospital outpatient department.