Kidney ultrasound cost in San Diego, CA — inpatient
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 9 hospitals list a cash price for complete ultrasound of the back of the abdomen, such as both kidneys as an inpatient: from $385.50 to $847.60, with a median of $821.25. The lowest listed price is at Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego — $435.75 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $847.60 at 101 hospitals.
Cash prices at 9 facilities across 5 cities for code 76770, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego lowest San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Scripps Nicu-Us Retroperitoneal Comp | $385.50 | $514.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Ultrasound Behind Abdominal Cavity | $535.15 | $973.00 | $90.11–$1,313.55 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scren-Us Kidney & Bladder | $619.50 | $826.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Hc-Us Kidney & Bladder | $619.50 | $826.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Cv-Us Kidney & Bladder | $619.50 | $826.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC USRETROPERIT B-SCAN/REAL TIMECOMPLETE - US RENAL COMPLETE | $821.25 | $1,095.00 | $164.25–$1,073.10 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC USRETROPERIT B-SCAN/REAL TIMECOMPLETE - US RENAL COMPLETE | $821.25 | $1,095.00 | $164.25–$985.50 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC USRETROPERIT B-SCAN/REAL TIMECOMPLETE - US RENAL COMPLETE | $821.25 | $1,095.00 | $325.21–$876.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC USRETROPERIT B-SCAN/REAL TIMECOMPLETE - US RENAL COMPLETE | $821.25 | $1,095.00 | $325.21–$897.90 | 25% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 US RETROPERITONEAL REAL TIME W/IMAGE COMPLETE | $847.60 | $1,630.00 | $96.00–$285.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA US RETROPERITONEAL REAL TIME W/IMAGE COMPLETE | $847.60 | $1,630.00 | $96.00–$285.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA US RETROPERITONEAL REAL TIME W/IMAGE COMPLETE | $847.60 | $1,630.00 | $96.00–$285.00 | 48% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $385.50, median $821.25, highest $847.60 — a 2.2× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $821.25 — 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
This ultrasound looks at organs at the back of the abdomen, most often both kidneys and the bladder, and sometimes the aorta. It is ordered for kidney stones, kidney infection, abnormal kidney tests or blood in the urine.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the complete exam. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.