Lower back X-ray cost in San Diego, CA — inpatient
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 9 hospitals list a cash price for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine), 2 or 3 views as an inpatient: from $243.10 to $576.75, with a median of $457.60. The lowest listed price is at UC San Diego Medical Center — $214.50 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $457.60 at 100 hospitals.
Cash prices at 9 facilities across 5 cities for code 72100, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . 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 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 X-Ray Of Lower And Sacral Spine, 2 Or 3 Views | $243.10 | $442.00 | $27.50–$596.70 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Xr L-S Spine 2V-3V | $303.00 | $404.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $457.60 | $880.00 | $96.00–$285.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $457.60 | $880.00 | $96.00–$285.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $457.60 | $880.00 | $96.00–$285.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW - XR LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $576.75 | $769.00 | $134.57–$13,856.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW - XR LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $576.75 | $769.00 | $48.60–$630.58 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW - XR LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $576.75 | $769.00 | $115.35–$753.62 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2/3 VW - XR LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $576.75 | $769.00 | $215.32–$753.62 | 25% | — source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Xry-Lumbar Limited | $669.00 | $892.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Xry-Lumbar Spine 1 View | $669.00 | $892.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $243.10, median $457.60, highest $576.75 — a 2.4× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $457.60 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 5 of 8 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it 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 lower back X-ray shows the bones of the lumbar spine in two or three views. It is used after injuries, for suspected fractures and for back pain with warning signs.
What the price covers
The price usually covers taking the images. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.