MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA — inpatient
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 8 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $2,231.90 to $3,111.75, with a median of $2,803.88. The lowest listed price is at UC San Diego Medical Center.
Cash prices at 8 facilities across 5 cities for code 72148, 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 | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego Medical Center lowest San Diego, CA Mri Scan Of Lower Spinal Canal | $2,231.90 | $4,058.00 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,496.00 | $4,800.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,496.00 | $4,800.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,496.00 | $4,800.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE - MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $3,111.75 | $4,149.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE - MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $3,111.75 | $4,149.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE - MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $3,111.75 | $4,149.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital Corporation La Mesa, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE - MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $3,111.75 | $4,149.00 | 25% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $2,231.90, median $2,803.88, highest $3,111.75 — a 1.4× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 9 facilities here, median $2,496.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
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.