Lower back MRI with contrast cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 37 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye: from $1,321.65 to $7,540.00, with a median of $2,656.05. The lowest price is at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital (Mooresville). The highest price is 5.7× 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 24, 2026.
Lowest$1,321.65Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital
Median$2,656.05half pay less
Highest$7,540.00in North Carolina
Lowest saves$1,334.40vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital lowest Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MRI Lumb Spine Wow Cntrst | $1,321.65 | $4,895.00 | — source file |
| Duke University Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC MRI Lumb Spine Wow Cntrst | $1,401.84 | $5,192.00 | — source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC MRI Lumb Spine Wow Cntrst | $1,401.84 | $5,192.00 | — source file |
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MRI Lumb Spine Wow Cntrst | $1,401.84 | $5,192.00 | — source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / Wo Contrast | $1,861.50 | $3,723.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC MRI Spine Lumbar W/WO Cont | $1,905.40 | $2,722.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,308.50 | $4,617.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,308.50 | $4,617.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| East Carolina Health-Bertie Windsor · Windsor, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $2,403.52 | $4,292.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,505.50 | $5,011.00 | Oct 21, 2025 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,643.50 | $5,287.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 4, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Concord · Concord, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,656.05 | $5,312.10 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,703.00 | $5,406.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $2,714.32 | $4,847.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,766.50 | $5,533.00 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $2,787.50 | $5,575.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Vidant Chowan Hospital Edenton · Edenton, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $3,350.48 | $5,983.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center Greenville · Greenville, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $3,689.86 | $6,962.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pitt County Memorial Hospital Washington · Washington, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $3,689.86 | $6,962.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Edgecombe Hospital Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $3,800.72 | $6,787.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $3,936.24 | $7,029.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Duplin Hospital Kenansville · Kenansville, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $4,275.60 | $7,635.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $4,669.46 | $4,669.46 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC MRI L-Spine W/O and W/ Con | $5,290.32 | $9,447.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONT | $7,482.00 | $7,482.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONT | $7,482.00 | $7,482.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/WO CONT | $7,482.00 | $7,482.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC MRI, LUMBAR SPINE COMBO | $7,540.00 | $7,540.00 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 12 | $1,321.65 | $2,656.05 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $2,505.50 | $2,643.50 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $3,936.24 | $3,936.24 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $2,766.50 | $2,766.50 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $7,540.00 | $7,540.00 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $4,669.46 | $4,669.46 |
| Concord, NC | 1 | $2,656.05 | $2,656.05 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $1,401.84 | $1,401.84 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1 | $1,401.84 | $1,401.84 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $3,350.48 | $3,350.48 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $1,861.50 | $1,861.50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $2,787.50 | $2,787.50 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $3,689.86 | $3,689.86 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $4,275.60 | $4,275.60 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $2,714.32 | $2,714.32 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $1,905.40 | $1,905.40 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 1 | $2,308.50 | $2,308.50 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $2,308.50 | $2,308.50 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1 | $1,401.84 | $1,401.84 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $5,290.32 | $5,290.32 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $3,800.72 | $3,800.72 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $2,656.05 | $2,656.05 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $2,403.52 | $2,403.52 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $3,689.86 | $3,689.86 |
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
- 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 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.