Lower back MRI with contrast cost in Alabama
In Alabama, 12 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye: from $473.55 to $15,450.00, with a median of $3,949.76. The lowest price is at East Alabama Medical Center (Opelika). The highest price is 32.6× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72158. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Hospitals in Alabama, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Alabama Medical Center lowest Opelika · Auburn-Opelika, AL RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/ + W/O CONTRAST | $473.55 | $861.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Healthcare Authority Monroeville · Monroeville, AL MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR WWO CONTRAST | $1,189.20 | $2,973.00 | — source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham · Birmingham, AL HC MRI, Lumbar Spine Combo - MRI Lumbar Spine W WO Contrast | $1,565.03 | $3,639.60 | — source file |
| Springhill Memorial Hospital Mobile · Mobile, AL LUMBAR W/W/O CONT | $2,090.27 | $2,459.14 | Apr 2, 2026 source file |
| Floyd Cherokee Medical Center Centre · Centre, AL HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,416.00 | $4,832.00 | Nov 19, 2025 source file |
| Crestwood Medical Center Huntsville · Huntsville, AL MR-LUMB SPINE WWO | $2,925.01 | $16,250.06 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Huntsville Hospital Huntsville · Huntsville, AL MR-LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONTR | $4,974.50 | $4,974.50 | — source file |
| Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine Combo - Mri Lumbar Spine W Wo Contrast | $14,342.81 | $14,342.81 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Citizens Hospital Talladega · Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine Combo - Mri Lumbar Spine W Wo Contrast | $15,450.00 | $15,450.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Princeton Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine Combo - Mri Lumbar Spine W Wo Contrast | $15,450.00 | $15,450.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Shelby Hospital Alabaster · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine Combo - Mri Lumbar Spine W Wo Contrast | $15,450.00 | $15,450.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Walker Hospital Jasper · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine Combo - Mri Lumbar Spine W Wo Contrast | $15,450.00 | $15,450.00 | Apr 1, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 5 | $1,565.03 | $15,450.00 |
| Huntsville, AL | 2 | $2,925.01 | $3,949.76 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 1 | $473.55 | $473.55 |
| Centre, AL | 1 | $2,416.00 | $2,416.00 |
| Monroeville, AL | 1 | $1,189.20 | $1,189.20 |
| Mobile, AL | 1 | $2,090.27 | $2,090.27 |
| Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 1 | $15,450.00 | $15,450.00 |
What it is
This MRI of the lumbar spine takes one set of pictures without contrast dye and a second set after the dye is injected into a vein. The dye helps tell scar tissue from a new disc problem after back surgery and can show infection, inflammation or tumors.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers both sets of images; the contrast agent may appear as a separate line on some bills. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.
MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye in other states
- Alaska$3,428.10
- Arizona$1,098.94
- Arkansas$902.85
- California$3,783.24
- Colorado$1,512.80
- Connecticut$2,411.27
- Delaware$3,788.10
- Florida$3,659.37
- Georgia$2,370.03
- Hawaii$2,037.60
- Idaho$2,263.00
- Illinois$2,767.50
- Indiana$1,527.41
- Iowa$2,413.35
- Kansas$3,053.70
- Kentucky$4,317.77
- Louisiana$1,252.26
- Maine$2,591.25
- Maryland$826.38
- Massachusetts$3,158.25
- Michigan$2,638.00
- Minnesota$1,861.38
- Mississippi$1,753.29
- Missouri$2,496.33
- Montana$2,787.34
- Nebraska$1,966.02
- Nevada$2,926.43
- New Hampshire$2,814.63
- New Jersey$476.54
- New Mexico$2,105.08
- New York$1,557.00
- North Carolina$2,656.05
- North Dakota$2,884.67
- Ohio$2,123.55
- Oklahoma$1,537.48
- Oregon$2,757.88
- Pennsylvania$2,915.10
- Puerto Rico$985.00
- Rhode Island$1,823.70
- South Carolina$2,265.90
- South Dakota$4,207.60
- Tennessee$953.70
- Texas$3,196.33
- Utah$2,845.91
- Vermont$3,957.52
- Virginia$3,315.50
- Washington$3,206.98
- West Virginia$1,949.50
- Wisconsin$2,700.06
- Wyoming$1,841.03
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.