Head CT angiogram (CTA) cost in San Diego, CA — inpatient
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 17 hospitals list a cash price for CT angiography (CTA) of the head as an inpatient: from $2,135.65 to $3,973.62, with a median of $2,964.00. The lowest listed price is at UC San Diego Medical Center — $828.35 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $3,234.20 at 208 hospitals.
Cash prices at 17 facilities across 10 cities for code 70496, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 30, 2026 and May 29, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego Medical Center lowest San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Ct Scan Of Blood Vessel Of Head | $2,135.65 | $3,883.00 | $201.74–$5,242.05 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC CT Angio Head W/WO | $2,343.60 | $9,374.40 | $180.21–$7,499.52 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Encinitas, CA · (760) 753-6501 HC CT Angio Head W/WO | $2,343.60 | $9,374.40 | $180.21–$7,499.52 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla, CA · (858) 626-4123 HC CT Angio Head W/WO | $2,343.60 | $9,374.40 | $180.21–$7,499.52 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla, CA · (858) 554-3600 HC CT Angio Head W/WO | $2,343.60 | $9,374.40 | $180.21–$7,499.52 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA · (619) 294-8111 HC CT Angio Head W/WO | $2,343.60 | $9,374.40 | $180.21–$7,499.52 | 75% | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD W/CONTRAST/NONCONTRAST | $2,964.00 | $5,700.00 | $257.00–$765.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD W/CONTRAST/NONCONTRAST | $2,964.00 | $5,700.00 | $257.00–$765.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD W/CONTRAST/NONCONTRAST | $2,964.00 | $5,700.00 | $257.00–$765.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 CT Angio Brain and Neck | $3,281.36 | $5,468.94 | $3,828.26–$4,260.30 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 CT Angio Circle Of Willis | $3,281.36 | $5,468.94 | $3,828.26–$4,260.30 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC CT ANGIOHEAD COMBO - CT HEAD ANGIO W AND WO IV CONTRAST | $3,613.50 | $4,818.00 | $304.50–$4,721.64 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC CT ANGIOHEAD COMBO - CT HEAD ANGIO W AND WO IV CONTRAST | $3,613.50 | $4,818.00 | $722.70–$3,854.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC CT ANGIOHEAD COMBO - CT HEAD ANGIO W AND WO IV CONTRAST | $3,613.50 | $4,818.00 | $722.70–$4,721.64 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC CT ANGIOHEAD COMBO - CT HEAD ANGIO W AND WO IV CONTRAST | $3,613.50 | $4,818.00 | $1,927.20–$4,721.64 | 25% | — source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ct- Head W Contrast Angio | $3,957.00 | $5,276.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 CTA Head w/contrast | $3,973.62 | $6,622.70 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA CTA Stroke Code-Angiography Head | $3,973.62 | $6,622.70 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA CTA Head w/contrast | $3,973.62 | $6,622.70 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA · (858) 485-6511 CTA Stroke Code-Angiography Head | $3,973.62 | $6,622.70 | — | 40% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $2,135.65, median $2,964.00, highest $3,973.62 — a 1.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 18 facilities here, median $2,964.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 11 of 14 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
A head CTA uses contrast dye and fast CT scanning to show the blood vessels of the brain. It is used in suspected stroke, for aneurysms and for sudden severe headache.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan and any contrast dye. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.