How much does a knee MRI cost in Austin?
MRI scan of the knee without contrast — commonly ordered for meniscus and ligament injuries. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 16 Austin-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.
$531
lowest median negotiated rate
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos
$5,516
highest (adult hospitals)
St. David's Round Rock Medical Center
10.4×
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 16 hospitals · file dates 2026-01-01 → 2026-06-13 · retrieved 2026-08-14
Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, the self-pay price is $728 — less than the $1,289 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.
Skipping the hospital? 16
independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median
$309 all-in for this procedure (80 insurer
rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($531).
- Balcones Imaging Consultants Pa — $50
- Kyle Crossing Imaging Center — $52
- San Marcos Medical Imaging Pllc — $59
- Max Mehta — $60