MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 48 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $254.00 to $5,888.80, with a median of $1,651.63. The lowest listed price is at Mercy Medical Center.
Cash prices at 48 facilities across 35 cities for code 72148, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 17, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$254.00Mercy Medical Center
Median$1,651.63half pay less
Highest$5,888.80in this market
Difference23.2×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
median
Lowest $254.00Highest $5,888.80
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center lowest Aurora, IL LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST - 72148 - 61000320 | $254.00 | $5,151.00 | 95% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Francis Hospital Evanston, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $254.00 | $3,580.00 | 93% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Aurora, IL MRI L-SPINE SURVEY WO CONTRAST | $254.00 | $5,151.00 | 95% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Roseland Community Hospital Association Chicago, IL MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $302.84 | $597.00 | 49% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Humboldt Park Health North Francisco Chicago, IL MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $550.66 | $1,966.65 | 72% | Aug 24, 2026 source file |
| Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Melrose Park, IL MR Scan Spine Lumb-WO/Con | $783.37 | $4,123.00 | 81% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL MR Scan Spine Lumb-WO/Con | $948.29 | $4,123.00 | 77% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange La Grange, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange La Grange, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $1,125.00 | $4,500.00 | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Presence Chicago Hospitals Network Chicago, IL HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONT | $1,181.40 | $3,580.00 | 67% | — source file |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,350.00 | $2,700.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,350.00 | $2,700.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Resilience Healthcare Weiss Memorial Hospital LLC Chicago, IL MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast BCE | $1,425.49 | $4,192.62 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Resilience Healthcare Weiss Memorial Hospital LLC Chicago, IL MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast | $1,425.49 | $4,192.62 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center LLC Oak Park, IL MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast BCE | $1,597.73 | $4,699.22 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center LLC Oak Park, IL MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast | $1,597.73 | $4,699.22 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Community First Healthcare of Illinois INC Chicago, IL MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $1,653.25 | $3,306.50 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL MR L SPINE WO DYE | $1,790.00 | $3,580.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $2,125.00 | $4,250.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL MRI Lumbar W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | 35% | — source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Evanston Hospital Evanson, IL MRI Lumbar W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | 35% | — source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL MRI Lumbar W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | 35% | — source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL MRI Lumbar W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | 35% | — source file |
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Heights, IL Hb Mri Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $3,186.00 | $3,186.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL H MR SPINE LUMBAR NEURO WO CONT | $3,564.40 | $5,092.00 | 30% | — source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital Wheaton, IL HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $3,837.40 | $5,482.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital Sandwich, IL HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $3,837.40 | $5,482.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Dekalb, IL HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $3,837.40 | $5,482.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $3,837.40 | $5,482.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $3,837.40 | $5,482.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL HB MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $3,837.40 | $5,482.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Endeavor Health Clinical Operations Evanston, IL HB MRI LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST | $3,908.00 | $3,908.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL HB MRI LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST | $3,908.00 | $3,908.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Endeavor Health Clinical Operations Highland Park, IL HB MRI LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST | $3,908.00 | $3,908.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospitals, Inc. Gary, IN MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Cont | $3,922.80 | $5,604.00 | 30% | — source file |
| The Methodist Hospitals, Inc. Merrillville, IN MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Cont | $3,922.80 | $5,604.00 | 30% | — source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Northwest Indiana Crown Point, IN HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS, LUMBAR; WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL | $4,535.00 | $4,535.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, IL Hc Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Spinal Canal And Contents, Lumbar; Without Contrast Material | $4,535.00 | $4,535.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Edward Hospital Naperville, IL HC MRI LUMBAR SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS WITHOUT CONTRAST | $4,705.00 | $4,705.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Elmhurst, IL HC MRI LUMBAR SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS WITHOUT CONTRAST | $4,705.00 | $4,705.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL Hc Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Spinal Canal And Contents, Lumbar; Without Contrast Material | $5,558.00 | $5,558.00 | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Chicago Chicago, IL MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $5,888.80 | $5,888.80 | — | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $254.00, median $1,651.63, highest $5,888.80 — a 23.2× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 31 facilities here, median $1,650.00. 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 lower back uses a magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the lumbar spine, including discs, nerves and the spinal canal. It is commonly ordered for back pain that spreads down the leg, numbness or weakness. No contrast dye is used.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan. The radiologist's interpretation is often billed separately.