Urine culture cost in Houston, TX
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 48 hospitals list a cash price for urine culture for bacteria, with colony count: from $7.91 to $1,759.26, with a median of $142.08. The lowest listed price is at Hsa St. Joseph — $134.17 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $129.30 at 273 hospitals.
- The median here, $142.08, is 109% above the US median of $67.86.
- That is 17.6× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($8.07).
- Houston, TX ranks 2nd of 4 metro areas in Texas by median, cheapest first.
- 16 of 48 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 48 facilities across 19 cities for code 87086, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 4, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Sep 17, 2026.
Lowest$7.91Hsa St. Joseph
Median$142.08half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,759.26in this market
Difference222.4×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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
median
Lowest $7.91Highest $1,759.26
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hsa St. Joseph lowest Houston, TX · (713) 757-1000 URINE CULTURE-TEST EXCHANGE+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $7.91 | $22.80 | $4.24–$24.69 | 65% |
| Harris Health Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 CULTURE, BACTERIAL; QUANTITATIVE COLONY COUNT, URINE File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $8.07 | $194.00 | $6.78–$126.10 | 96% |
| Harris Health Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 CULTURE, BACTERIAL; QUANTITATIVE COLONY COUNT, URINE File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $8.07 | $194.00 | $6.78–$126.10 | 96% |
| Shriners Childrens Texas Galveston, TX · (409) 770-6600 URINE CULTURE/COLONY COUNT File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $59.40 | $59.40 | $7.18–$15.49 | — |
| Voyages of Sugar Land South Sugar Land, TX Urine Culture/Colony Count File of Aug 6, 2026 · source file | $80.70 | $80.70 | $20.18–$60.53 | — |
| Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center Liberty, TX · (936) 336-7316 Urine Sp. Cult Qst+3 more lines at this price source file | $89.00 | $127.00 | $76.00–$121.00 | 30% |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE, BACTERIAL, QUANTITATIVE COLONY COUNT, URINE+2 more lines at this price File of Mar 5, 2026 · source file | $93.13 | $139.00 | $8.07–$132.05 | 33% |
| The Community Hospital of Brazosport Lake Jackson, TX · (979) 297-4411 CULTURE URINECOLONY COUNT File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $94.85 | $271.00 | $6.78–$217.89 | 65% |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC CULTURE - URINE QUANT+2 more lines at this price File of Mar 5, 2026 · source file | $115.91 | $173.00 | $8.07–$164.35 | 33% |
| Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital Pearland, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center The Woodlands, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 725-5000 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital Humble, TX · (281) 540-7700 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Tirr Memorial Hermann Houston, TX HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center Houston, TX · (713) 242-3000 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital Katy, TX · (281) 392-1111 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $122.08 | $381.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Upper Kirby) Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Texas Medical Center) Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Cypress) Cypress, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Rockets Orthopedic Hospital Bellaire, TX HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital Houston, TX HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Bellaire) Bellaire, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC CULTURE URINE W COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $142.08 | $444.00 | — | 68% |
| St. Lukes Hospital at the Vintage Houston, TX · (832) 534-5000 HC LAB CULT-URINE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $173.25 | $495.00 | $5.81–$495.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's Lakeside Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 266-4055 HC LAB CULT-URINE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $173.25 | $495.00 | $5.81–$495.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's the Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 266-4050 HC LAB CULT-URINE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $173.25 | $495.00 | $5.81–$495.00 | 65% |
| CHI St. Luke's Health Springwood Village Spring, TX · (936) 266-4050 HC LAB CULT-URINE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $173.25 | $495.00 | $5.81–$495.00 | 65% |
| CHI St. Luke's Health Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center Houston, TX · (832) 355-1000 HC LAB CULT-URINE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $173.25 | $495.00 | $5.81–$495.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 637-7000 HC LAB CULT-URINE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $173.25 | $495.00 | $5.81–$495.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's Patients Medical Center Pasadena, TX · (281) 487-0700 URINE CULTURE/COLONY COUNT File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $188.90 | $539.70 | $6.44–$404.78 | 65% |
| Texas Orthopedic Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 799-8600 CULT COLONY COUNT UR+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $266.40 | $266.40 | $6.92–$239.76 | — |
| Elite Hospital Kingwood Kingwood, TX · (832) 777-6165 Culture bacterial; quantitative colony count urine File of Sep 17, 2026 · source file | $273.75 | $547.50 | $241.82 | 50% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX CULTURE URINE W/COLONY COUNT File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $440.00 | $440.00 | — | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe Conroe, TX · (936) 539-1111 Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count, urine +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $725.06 | $725.06 | $33.47–$652.55 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare West Houston, TX · (281) 588-8080 CULT COLONY COUNT UR File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $880.00 | $880.00 | $52.80–$792.00 | — |
| The Womans Hospital of Texas Houston, TX · (713) 790-1234 Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count, urine +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $895.99 | $895.99 | $6.92–$313.60 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball Houston, TX · (281) 351-7500 Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count, urine +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,070.12 | $1,070.12 | $33.47–$909.60 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland Houston, TX · (713) 770-7000 Culture, bacterial; quantitative colony count, urine +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,103.43 | $1,103.43 | $33.47–$937.92 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center Houston, TX · (713) 527-5019 CULT COLONY COUNT UR+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,242.00 | $1,242.00 | $6.92–$1,055.70 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake Alvin, TX · (281) 332-2511 CULT COLONY COUNT UR File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,268.72 | $1,268.72 | $444.05 | — |
| HCA Houston Mainland Texas City, TX · (281) 332-2511 CULT COLONY COUNT UR+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,268.72 | $1,268.72 | $33.47–$1,141.85 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast Pasadena, TX · (713) 359-1000 CULT COLONY COUNT UR+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,278.27 | $1,278.27 | $33.47–$1,150.44 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood Humble, TX · (281) 359-7500 CULT COLONY COUNT UR+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,289.60 | $1,289.60 | $33.47–$1,160.64 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress Houston, TX · (281) 359-7500 CULT COLONY COUNT UR+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,289.60 | $1,289.60 | $6.92–$1,096.16 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest Houston, TX · (281) 440-1000 CULT COLONY COUNT UR+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,759.26 | $1,759.26 | $6.92–$1,495.37 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $7.91, median $142.08, highest $1,759.26 — a 222.4× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 32 facilities here, median $142.08. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 13 of 29 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 urine culture is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Urine culture explained.