How much does a brain MRI (without contrast) cost in Phoenix?
MRI scan of the brain without contrast dye — the standard first-look brain imaging study. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 27 Phoenix-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.
$328
lowest median negotiated rate
Valleywise Health Medical Center
$1,819
highest (adult hospitals)
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
5.5×
price spread
same procedure, same metro
Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt
cash (self-pay) price
| Hospital | Gross charge | Cash price | Negotiated | Range | # rates | vs median |
|---|
* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.
SOURCE: standard-charges files from 27 hospitals · file dates 2026-01-01 → 2026-06-28 · retrieved 2026-08-03
Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, the self-pay price is $347 — less than the $1,084 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.
Skipping the hospital? 37
independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median
$227 all-in for this procedure (225 insurer
rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($328).
- Ultrasound Institute Medical Group, Inc. — $44
- Urprecious 3D Breast Ultrasound Llc — $49
- Kempton & Nelson Diagnostics Llc — $50
- Sonoease Pllc — $51