MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 36 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $520.00 to $5,237.00, with a median of $1,502.64. The lowest price is at Allen Memorial Hospital Corporation (Waterloo) and 10 other hospitals. The highest price is 10.1× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72148. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Lowest$520.00Allen Memorial Hospital Corporation + 10 more
Median$1,502.64half pay less
Highest$5,237.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$982.64vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Memorial Hospital Corporation lowest Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Central Iowa Hospital Corporation lowest Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center lowest Grinnell · Grinnell, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Northwest Iowa Hospital Corporation lowest Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital lowest Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke'sJones Regional Medical Center lowest Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital lowest Dubuque · Dubuque, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Medical Center lowest Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center lowest Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare lowest Muscatine · Muscatine, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown lowest Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE | $520.00 | $650.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA MRI Exam | $900.30 | $3,001.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Services-Iowa Corp. Mason City · Mason City, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,033.50 | $1,590.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MR Lumbar Plexus wo Contrast | $1,079.40 | $1,799.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MR Lumbar Plexus wo Contrast | $1,179.00 | $1,965.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA MR Lumbar Plexus wo Contrast | $1,179.00 | $1,965.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,403.20 | $1,754.00 | — source file |
| Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Health System Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,424.64 | $3,392.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic Inc West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 72148 MRI-LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,580.63 | $2,661.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Winneshiek Medical Center Decorah · Decorah, IA MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $2,074.80 | $2,964.00 | Jul 17, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $2,239.20 | $4,665.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $2,285.85 | $4,665.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa Corp Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,589.60 | $3,984.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Central Community Hospital Elkader · Elkader, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,598.70 | $3,998.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters Inc Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,598.70 | $3,998.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,598.70 | $3,998.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Newton Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,598.70 | $3,998.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center-Clinton Inc Clinton · Clinton, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,598.70 | $3,998.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Covenant Medical Center Inc Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $3,125.20 | $4,808.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Inc Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $3,125.20 | $4,808.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA MRI L SPINE WO CONTRAST | $3,165.60 | $3,957.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $3,477.50 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $3,824.71 | $3,943.00 | — source file |
| St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, Centerville Centerville · Centerville, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $3,998.00 | $3,998.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $4,233.08 | $4,364.00 | — source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa Corp West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $5,237.00 | $5,237.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 4 | $520.00 | $2,594.15 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $520.00 | $1,079.40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $900.30 | $1,424.64 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 3 | $520.00 | $3,125.20 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $1,179.00 | $1,888.85 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $520.00 | $1,998.75 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $3,998.00 | $3,998.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $2,239.20 | $2,239.20 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $2,074.80 | $2,074.80 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $2,598.70 | $2,598.70 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $3,824.71 | $3,824.71 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $1,033.50 | $1,033.50 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $2,598.70 | $2,598.70 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $2,598.70 | $2,598.70 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $4,233.08 | $4,233.08 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $3,165.60 | $3,165.60 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $1,403.20 | $1,403.20 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $1,580.63 | $1,580.63 |
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.
MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in other states
- Alabama$2,629.06
- Alaska$2,642.99
- Arizona$726.38
- Arkansas$847.20
- California$2,665.50
- Colorado$981.91
- Connecticut$1,508.65
- Delaware$2,452.48
- Florida$2,324.67
- Georgia$1,775.67
- Hawaii$1,510.20
- Idaho$1,857.00
- Illinois$1,777.50
- Indiana$948.06
- Kansas$1,694.40
- Kentucky$3,235.67
- Louisiana$1,017.63
- Maine$1,293.45
- Maryland$469.03
- Massachusetts$2,312.47
- Michigan$1,426.00
- Minnesota$1,240.46
- Mississippi$682.50
- Missouri$1,862.90
- Montana$1,848.37
- Nebraska$1,503.82
- Nevada$1,950.95
- New Hampshire$1,875.33
- New Jersey$322.54
- New Mexico$1,592.17
- New York$1,008.83
- North Carolina$2,013.08
- North Dakota$1,723.78
- Ohio$1,309.10
- Oklahoma$1,030.18
- Oregon$1,776.00
- Pennsylvania$1,790.00
- Puerto Rico$690.00
- Rhode Island$1,258.00
- South Carolina$2,759.50
- South Dakota$3,189.60
- Tennessee$705.00
- Texas$2,190.02
- Utah$2,229.06
- Vermont$2,912.70
- Virginia$1,954.80
- Washington$2,114.45
- West Virginia$1,381.00
- Wisconsin$1,621.22
- Wyoming$1,227.35
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.