MRI of the brain, no contrast dye in Columbia, SC
In Columbia, SC, 3 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the brain, no contrast dye: from $1,208.50 to $2,045.00, with a median of $1,208.50. The lowest listed price is at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast.
Cash prices at 3 facilities across 2 cities for code 70551, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Apr 1, 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 Columbia, SC.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast lowest Columbia, SC HB MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST | $1,208.50 | $2,417.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia, SC HB MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST | $1,208.50 | $2,417.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kershaw Medical Center Camden, SC HB MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST | $2,045.00 | $4,090.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $1,208.50, median $1,208.50, highest $2,045.00 — a 1.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $1,208.50. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
What it is
An MRI of the brain uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not X-rays, to make detailed pictures of the brain and brain stem. It is used to look into headaches, seizures, dizziness, numbness or other nerve symptoms. This version is done without contrast dye.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan itself. The radiologist's interpretation is often billed separately, and sedation, if needed, is extra.