Lower back MRI with contrast cost in Minnesota
In Minnesota, 47 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye: from $393.90 to $4,488.00, with a median of $1,861.38. The lowest price is at Methodist Hospital (St. Louis Park). The highest price is 11.4× 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$393.90Methodist Hospital
Median$1,861.38half pay less
Highest$4,488.00in Minnesota
Lowest saves$1,467.48vs the median
Hospitals in Minnesota, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methodist Hospital lowest St. Louis Park · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MRI lumbar spine with and without contrast | $393.90 | $1,515.00 | — source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 72158 PF MRI Spine Lumbar w/wo Cont | $641.00 | $641.00 | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO LIMITED | $685.49 | $1,428.10 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems Coon Rapids · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO LIMITED | $685.49 | $1,428.10 | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems St. Paul · St. Paul, MN HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO LIMITED | $685.49 | $1,428.10 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI Pro MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye | $814.37 | $1,497.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spinal canal; lumbar | $1,040.82 | $1,975.00 | — source file |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spinal canal; lumbar | $1,040.82 | $1,975.00 | — source file |
| Regions Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MRI lumbar spine with and without contrast | $1,060.28 | $4,078.00 | — source file |
| Fairview Bethesda Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,162.10 | $2,898.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital Princeton · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,162.10 | $2,898.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,162.10 | $2,898.00 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids · Grand Rapids, MN HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,231.65 | $2,898.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,231.65 | $2,898.00 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Range Regional Health Services Hibbing · Duluth, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,231.65 | $2,898.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Lake View Hospital Two Harbors · Two Harbors, MN Pro MRI Lumbar Spine W/O & W/Dye | $1,232.03 | $1,497.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services Wyoming · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,282.40 | $3,198.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| HealthEast St John's Hospital Maplewood · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,282.40 | $3,198.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| HealthEast Woodwinds Hospital Woodbury · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,282.40 | $3,198.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital Edina · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO&W CONT | $1,282.40 | $3,198.00 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Faribault Medical Center Faribualt · Faribault-Northfield, MN HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO LIMITED | $1,861.38 | $3,323.90 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO LIMITED | $1,861.38 | $3,323.90 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO LIMITED | $1,861.38 | $3,323.90 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Owatonna Hospital Owatonna · Owatonna, MN HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO LIMITED | $1,861.38 | $3,323.90 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MRI lumbar spine with and without contrast | $1,887.37 | $5,101.00 | — source file |
| Allina Health Systems New Ulm · New Ulm, MN HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WWO | $2,018.46 | $3,604.40 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Hutchinson Hospital Hutchinson · Hutchinson, MN MRI lumbar spine with and without contrast | $2,096.68 | $4,558.00 | — source file |
| Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital of Wabasha Wabasha · Rochester, MN HCHG 72158 MRI L-SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,140.03 | $3,514.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Olivia Hospital Olivia · Olivia, MN MRI lumbar spine with and without contrast | $2,549.19 | $4,179.00 | — source file |
| Essentia Health Ada Ada · Ada, MN MRI L SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,917.57 | $3,948.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Deer River Deer River · Grand Rapids, MN MRI L SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,917.57 | $3,948.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Fosston Fosston · Grand Forks, ND-MN MRI L SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,917.57 | $3,948.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Holy Trinity Hospital Graceville · Graceville, MN MRI L SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,917.57 | $3,948.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Moose Lake Moose Lake · Duluth, MN-WI MRI L SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,917.57 | $3,948.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Northern Pines Aurora · Duluth, MN-WI MRI L SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,917.57 | $3,948.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Sandstone Sandstone · Sandstone, MN MRI L SPINE W&WO CONTRAST | $2,917.57 | $3,948.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Wheaton Wheaton · Wheaton, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $3,850.40 | $4,813.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Bagley Medical Center Bagley · Bagley, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,034.40 | $5,043.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Bemidji Medical Center Bemidji · Bemidji, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,034.40 | $5,043.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Behavioral Health Thief River Falls Thief River Falls · Thief River Falls, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,103.20 | $5,129.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center Thief River Falls · Thief River Falls, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,103.20 | $5,129.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Canby Medical Center Canby · Canby, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,217.60 | $5,272.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Worthington Medical Center Worthington · Worthington, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,224.80 | $5,281.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Luverne Medical Center Luverne · Sioux Falls, SD-MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,279.20 | $5,349.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Tracy Hospital Tracy · Marshall, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,399.20 | $5,499.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Westbrook Hospital Westbrook · Westbrook, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,399.20 | $5,499.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Jackson Hospital Jackson · Jackson, MN MRI L SPINE WO THEN W CONT | $4,488.00 | $5,610.00 | Mar 4, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 18 | $393.90 | $1,162.10 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 4 | $814.37 | $2,074.61 |
| Grand Rapids, MN | 2 | $1,231.65 | $2,074.61 |
| Thief River Falls, MN | 2 | $4,103.20 | $4,103.20 |
| Ada, MN | 1 | $2,917.57 | $2,917.57 |
| Bagley, MN | 1 | $4,034.40 | $4,034.40 |
| Bemidji, MN | 1 | $4,034.40 | $4,034.40 |
| Canby, MN | 1 | $4,217.60 | $4,217.60 |
| Faribault-Northfield, MN | 1 | $1,861.38 | $1,861.38 |
| Graceville, MN | 1 | $2,917.57 | $2,917.57 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 1 | $2,917.57 | $2,917.57 |
| Hutchinson, MN | 1 | $2,096.68 | $2,096.68 |
| Jackson, MN | 1 | $4,488.00 | $4,488.00 |
| Marshall, MN | 1 | $4,399.20 | $4,399.20 |
| New Ulm, MN | 1 | $2,018.46 | $2,018.46 |
| Olivia, MN | 1 | $2,549.19 | $2,549.19 |
| Owatonna, MN | 1 | $1,861.38 | $1,861.38 |
| Rochester, MN | 1 | $2,140.03 | $2,140.03 |
| Sandstone, MN | 1 | $2,917.57 | $2,917.57 |
| St. Paul, MN | 1 | $685.49 | $685.49 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 1 | $4,279.20 | $4,279.20 |
| Two Harbors, MN | 1 | $1,232.03 | $1,232.03 |
| Westbrook, MN | 1 | $4,399.20 | $4,399.20 |
| Wheaton, MN | 1 | $3,850.40 | $3,850.40 |
| Worthington, MN | 1 | $4,224.80 | $4,224.80 |
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
- 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
- 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.