Lower back MRI with contrast cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 36 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye: from $945.60 to $7,543.00, with a median of $2,413.35. The lowest price is at Allen Hospital (Waterloo) and 10 other hospitals. The highest price is 8.0× 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.
Lowest$945.60Allen Hospital + 10 more
Median$2,413.35half pay less
Highest$7,543.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$1,467.75vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Hospital lowest Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center lowest Grinnell · Grinnell, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital lowest Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke'sJones Regional Medical Center lowest Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center lowest Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital lowest Dubuque · Dubuque, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Medical Center lowest Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center lowest Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare lowest Muscatine · Muscatine, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical lowest Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown lowest Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA PR MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $945.60 | $1,182.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA MRI Exam | $1,455.30 | $4,851.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $1,643.20 | $2,528.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR W WO CONTRAST | $1,966.02 | $4,681.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W WO CONTRAST | $2,057.60 | $2,572.00 | — source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MR Lumbar Plexus w/wo Contrast | $2,162.40 | $3,604.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MR Lumbar Plexus w/wo Contrast | $2,361.60 | $3,936.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA MR Spine Lumbar w/wo Contrast | $2,361.60 | $3,936.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 72158 MRI L-SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,465.10 | $4,150.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC MR LUMBAR W WO CONTRAST | $2,485.44 | $5,178.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR W WO CONTRAST | $2,537.22 | $5,178.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Winneshiek Medical Center Decorah · Decorah, IA MRI scan of lower spinal canal before and after contrast | $3,275.30 | $4,679.00 | Jul 17, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $3,307.20 | $5,088.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $3,307.20 | $5,088.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Central Community Hospital Elkader · Elkader, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $3,803.15 | $5,851.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $3,803.15 | $5,851.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Newton Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $3,803.15 | $5,851.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $3,803.15 | $5,851.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $4,317.30 | $6,642.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,326.40 | $5,408.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $4,816.05 | $4,965.00 | — source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $4,841.20 | $7,448.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $4,882.80 | $7,512.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $5,715.24 | $5,892.00 | — source file |
| St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, Centerville Centerville · Centerville, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $5,851.00 | $5,851.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Contrast | $7,543.00 | $7,543.00 | 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 | $945.60 | $4,060.22 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $945.60 | $2,162.40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $1,455.30 | $1,966.02 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 3 | $945.60 | $3,307.20 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $2,361.60 | $3,622.20 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $945.60 | $2,893.40 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $945.60 | $945.60 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $5,851.00 | $5,851.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $2,485.44 | $2,485.44 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $945.60 | $945.60 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $3,275.30 | $3,275.30 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $3,803.15 | $3,803.15 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $4,816.05 | $4,816.05 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $945.60 | $945.60 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $945.60 | $945.60 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $945.60 | $945.60 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $1,643.20 | $1,643.20 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $945.60 | $945.60 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $3,803.15 | $3,803.15 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $3,803.15 | $3,803.15 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $5,715.24 | $5,715.24 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $4,326.40 | $4,326.40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $945.60 | $945.60 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $2,057.60 | $2,057.60 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $2,465.10 | $2,465.10 |
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
- Alabama$3,949.76
- 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
- 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.