Barium swallow cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 58 hospitals publish a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $81.27 to $939.00, with a median of $443.00. The lowest price is at Iredell Memorial Hospital (Statesville). The highest price is 11.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $443.00, is about the same as the US median of $447.60.
- That is 2.5× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- North Carolina ranks 24th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 10 of 58 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 74220. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$81.27Iredell Memorial Hospital
Median$443.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$939.00in North Carolina
Lowest saves$361.73vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iredell Memorial Hospital lowest Statesville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC XR Barium Esophagram | $81.27 | $301.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Xr Esophagus Incl Scdi W Cntrst Study | $175.50 | $650.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Randolph Health Asheboro · Asheboro, NC BARIUM SWALLOW | $177.60 | $888.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Esophagus | $210.00 | $375.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Xr Esophagus Incl Scdi W Cntrst Study | $226.80 | $840.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Health Raleigh Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Xr Esophagus Incl Scdi W Cntrst Study | $226.80 | $840.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Xr Esophagus Incl Scdi W Cntrst Study | $226.80 | $840.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northern Regional Hospital Mount Airy · Mount Airy, NC Esophagus X-Ray | $231.20 | $340.00 | Nov 12, 2025 source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC Chgr-Barium Swallow | $272.50 | $545.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Cary Hospital Cary · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Contrast X-Ray Esophagus | $302.48 | $796.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Raleigh Campus Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Contrast X-Ray Esophagus | $302.48 | $796.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Wilson Medical Center Wilson · Wilson, NC Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $352.00 | $880.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $372.50 | $745.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $373.50 | $747.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Sampson Regional Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, NC Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $377.30 | $539.00 | Nov 2, 2026 source file |
| Harris Regional Hospital Sylva · Sylva, NC Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $380.75 | $951.87 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $382.50 | $765.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $388.50 | $777.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $393.00 | $786.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $395.50 | $791.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Rutherford Regional Medical Center Rutherfordton · Forest City, NC Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $399.86 | $999.66 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Esophagus | $403.76 | $721.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Scotland Memorial Hospital and Edwin Morgan Center Laurinburg · Laurinburg, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $407.50 | $815.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Betsy Johnson Hospital Dunn · Anderson Creek, NC SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $438.00 | $730.00 | Apr 7, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Bladen County Hospital Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, NC SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $438.00 | $730.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Hoke Hospital Raeford · Fayetteville, NC X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $438.00 | $730.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $438.00 | $730.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $438.00 | $730.00 | Mar 22, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health University City Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $443.00 | $886.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Esophagus | $454.72 | $812.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Person Memorial Hospital Roxboro · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $458.80 | $1,147.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Columbus Regional Healthcare System Whiteville · Whiteville, NC XR Esophagus | $475.58 | $679.39 | Sep 1, 2025 source file |
| ECU Health Beaufort Hospital Washington · Washington, NC Esophagus | $501.91 | $947.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center Greenville · Greenville, NC Esophagus | $501.91 | $947.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Esophagram,Barium Swallow | $522.20 | $746.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Frye Regional Medical Center Hickory · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $538.29 | $1,345.72 | Jul 8, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Chowan Hospital Edenton · Edenton, NC Esophagus | $558.32 | $997.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Duplin Hospital Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Esophagus | $579.60 | $1,035.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Esophagus | $632.24 | $1,129.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG XR ESOPHAGUS/BARIUM SWALLOW SGL CONT | $830.00 | $830.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG XR ESOPHAGUS/BARIUM SWALLOW SGL CONT | $830.00 | $830.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG XR ESOPHAGUS/BARIUM SWALLOW SGL CONT | $830.00 | $830.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Angel Medical Center Franklin · Franklin, NC Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $863.09 | $863.09 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Spruce Pine · Spruce Pine, NC XR ESOPHAGUS | $863.09 | $863.09 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Highlands · Highlands, NC XR ESOPHAGUS | $863.09 | $863.09 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Asheville · Asheville, NC XR ESOPHAGUS | $863.09 | $863.09 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital McDowell Marion · Marion, NC XR ESOPHAGUS | $863.09 | $863.09 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $907.31 | $907.31 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $939.00 | $939.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
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 | 13 | $81.27 | $443.00 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 3 | $438.00 | $438.00 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 3 | $226.80 | $302.48 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $372.50 | $393.00 |
| Asheville, NC | 2 | $863.09 | $901.04 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2 | $226.80 | $342.80 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 2 | $231.20 | $309.85 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $632.24 | $632.24 |
| Asheboro, NC | 1 | $177.60 | $177.60 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $443.00 | $443.00 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 1 | $438.00 | $438.00 |
| Clinton, NC | 1 | $377.30 | $377.30 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $907.31 | $907.31 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $226.80 | $226.80 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $558.32 | $558.32 |
| Elizabethtown, NC | 1 | $438.00 | $438.00 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $272.50 | $272.50 |
| Franklin, NC | 1 | $863.09 | $863.09 |
| Forest City, NC | 1 | $399.86 | $399.86 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $382.50 | $382.50 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $501.91 | $501.91 |
| Highlands, NC | 1 | $863.09 | $863.09 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 1 | $538.29 | $538.29 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $579.60 | $579.60 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| Laurinburg, NC | 1 | $407.50 | $407.50 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $522.20 | $522.20 |
| Marion, NC | 1 | $863.09 | $863.09 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $373.50 | $373.50 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $454.72 | $454.72 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $403.76 | $403.76 |
| Spruce Pine, NC | 1 | $863.09 | $863.09 |
| Sylva, NC | 1 | $380.75 | $380.75 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $443.00 | $443.00 |
| Whiteville, NC | 1 | $475.58 | $475.58 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $501.91 | $501.91 |
| Wilson, NC | 1 | $352.00 | $352.00 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What barium swallow is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Barium swallow explained.
Barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast) in other states
- Alabama$276.42
- Alaska$815.79
- Arizona$341.04
- Arkansas$231.89
- California$605.53
- Colorado$638.10
- Connecticut$644.66
- Delaware$416.23
- District of Columbia$479.63, 3 hospitals
- Florida$840.67
- Georgia$343.53
- Hawaii$490.00
- Idaho$419.90
- Illinois$609.72
- Indiana$465.25
- Iowa$364.41
- Kansas$422.45
- Kentucky$437.32
- Louisiana$215.60
- Maine$361.59
- Maryland$573.68
- Massachusetts$535.50
- Michigan$289.25
- Minnesota$309.81
- Mississippi$221.60
- Missouri$433.55
- Montana$355.36
- Nebraska$627.25
- Nevada$565.39
- New Hampshire$605.65
- New Jersey$209.65
- New Mexico$490.05
- New York$342.50
- North Dakota$358.15
- Ohio$442.50
- Oklahoma$293.54
- Oregon$558.63
- Pennsylvania$460.00
- Puerto Rico$202.50, 4 hospitals
- Rhode Island$446.00
- South Carolina$466.20
- South Dakota$829.00
- Tennessee$219.31
- Texas$521.39
- Utah$660.77
- Vermont$862.64
- Virginia$485.00
- Washington$558.60
- West Virginia$368.51
- Wisconsin$530.00
- Wyoming$456.57
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.