COVID-19 PCR test cost in San Diego, CA
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 11 hospitals list a cash price for COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test): from $27.95 to $227.25, with a median of $110.00. The lowest listed price is at Tri-City Medical Center — $82.05 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $95.68 at 96 hospitals.
Cash prices at 11 facilities across 7 cities for code 87635, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Sep 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-City Medical Center lowest Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RNA (BD MAX) | $27.95 | $46.58 | $27.20–$82.10 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 COVID-19 DX PANEL LC139900 - 87635 - 1300961 | $51.00 | $51.31 | $15.39–$256.55 | 1% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC ACCULA | $51.00 | $256.55 | $15.39–$256.55 | 80% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC PNL Q39433 | $51.00 | $69.00 | $15.39–$256.55 | 26% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 COVID-19 DIAG PANEL SONIC | $51.00 | $70.00 | $15.39–$256.55 | 27% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 COVID19 DIAG IN-HOUSE | $51.00 | $115.50 | $15.39–$256.55 | 56% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC PNL SONIC - 87635 - 71000130 | $51.00 | $70.00 | $15.39–$256.55 | 27% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 COVID-19 Sharp by PCR | $51.55 | $85.91 | $44.90–$82.10 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) PCR (GeneXpert) | $72.66 | $121.10 | $44.90–$95.55 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ | $95.68 | $184.00 | $35.00–$105.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ | $95.68 | $184.00 | $35.00–$105.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ | $95.68 | $184.00 | $35.00–$105.00 | 48% | — source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq (POCT) | $110.00 | $200.00 | $24.00–$270.00 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Testing for corona virus 19 by PCR-based amplified probe technique | $133.10 | $242.00 | $29.04–$326.70 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Testing for COVID19 by PCR-based amplified probe technique using high throughput technologies | $133.10 | $242.00 | $29.04–$326.70 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego one side San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Lab-Covid-19 Rna,Qualtitative Rt-Pcr | $176.25 | $235.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Scripps Hc Iadna Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amplified Probe Tq | $202.04 | $269.38 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rs Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb | $225.00 | $300.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital one side San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ - SARS-COV-2 RT PCR | $227.25 | $303.00 | $53.02–$272.70 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center one side Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ - SARS-COV-2 RT PCR | $227.25 | $303.00 | $1.00–$233.31 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital one side La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ - SARS-COV-2 RT PCR | $227.25 | $303.00 | $0.02–$233.31 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center one side Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ - SARS-COV-2 RT PCR | $227.25 | $303.00 | $1.00–$233.31 | 25% | — source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Lab-Sars-Cov-2 Rapid | $268.50 | $358.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Pph Sars-Cov-2 Pcr | $300.00 | $400.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $27.95, median $110.00, highest $227.25 — a 8.1× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $143.13. 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 10 of 10 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 is the lab (PCR or similar amplification) test for the virus that causes COVID-19. It is more sensitive than a rapid antigen test and is often required before some procedures or travel.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test on a swab sample; the collection may be billed separately.