Official hospital price files 150 Texas hospitals Checked every week, last October 30, 2026
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Brain MRI cost without insurance

MRI brain without contrast, CPT 70551: hospital cash prices and insurer rates in Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and McAllen.

  • Prices from each hospital’s official price file
  • Checked October 30, 2026
  • Outpatient facility prices
In the 5 cities we cover in Texas, the hospital cash price for a brain MRI (CPT 70551) runs from $232 (Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital, Houston) to $11,093 (South Texas Health System Edinburg). That is the facility charge; the doctor’s fee is extra.

By city

MetroCash pricelowest–highestMedian cashMedian employer-plan rateHospitals
Houston$232–3,001$1,336$64047
Dallas–Fort Worth$238–2,856$1,931$1,55769
San Antonio$823–1,739$1,281$1,4064
Austin$482–2,557$1,503$1,41019
McAllen$238–11,093$238$9446

Outpatient facility charge only. These are the hospital’s own published prices for the facility part of the visit. The doctor’s or radiologist’s fee is billed separately and isn’t included, and your final bill can differ (extra tests, contrast, supplies). Not medical or insurance advice.

Cash or your insurance plan?Your plan pays a different rate at each hospital. See your plan’s own rate at every hospital nearby, next to the cash price, and what you would pay after your deductible. See an example report.

See what your plan pays

What it is

An MRI of the brain without contrast dye (CPT 70551). With contrast, or with and without, are separate codes (70552, 70553) and cost more.

What the hospital price covers

The scanner time, the technologist and the facility. The radiologist’s reading is usually billed separately by a physician group.

How to get the cash price

  1. Pick a hospital from the city table and call its price-estimate or scheduling line.
  2. Say you are a self-pay patient and quote CPT 70551; ask whether the order is with or without contrast, since that changes the code.
  3. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate in writing. If the bill comes in $400 or more above it, you can dispute it. See Good Faith Estimates.

Independent imaging centers and labs, which often charge less, aren’t covered by the hospital price rule and aren’t in this data yet.

The 10 lowest cash prices

HospitalCityCash price
Harris Health Ben Taub HospitalHouston$232
St Joseph Medical CenterHouston$236
Dallas Medical CenterDallas–Fort Worth$238
Dallas Regional Medical CenterDallas–Fort Worth$238
Knapp Medical CenterMcAllen$238
Mission Regional Medical CenterMcAllen$238
Aspire Behavioral Health HospitalHouston$400
The Hospital at Westlake Medical CenterAustin$482
St. Michael's Elite HospitalHouston$697
Crescent Regional HospitalDallas–Fort Worth$755