Healthcare Cost Comparison Calculator

Compare procedure costs at hospitals, ASCs, and clinics.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: CMS — Hospital Price Transparency

Hospital

$2,500.00

Surgery Center

$1,200.00

Potential Savings

$1,300.00

Facility Comparison

Hospital$2,500.00
Ambulatory Surgery Center$1,200.00
Clinic / Imaging Center$600.00
Max Savings$1,300.00

Use the Healthcare Cost Comparison Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Where you have a procedure done often matters as much as what the procedure is. The same surgery can carry very different out-of-pocket costs depending on whether it happens at a hospital, an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC), or an independent clinic. Choosing the right setting can translate into real savings, and this tool lines up those three facility types side by side for five common services: MRI, CT scan, X-ray, colonoscopy and knee replacement.

The prices are fixed illustrative figures built into the calculator, one per service and setting, not Medicare rates or any insurer's negotiated prices. In them a surgery center runs 48% to 63% of the hospital price and a clinic or imaging center, where one is listed, 24% to 27%; colonoscopy and knee replacement have no clinic option. The Potential Savings figure is the hospital price minus the surgery-center price.

Treat the numbers as a starting point and confirm the exact procedure codes (CPT) with both your provider and your insurer before scheduling. The lowest sticker price isn't the whole story either: physician expertise, facility accreditation, and whether the site sits inside your insurance network all factor in, and overlooking the network question is how patients end up with surprise out-of-network charges.

Example: Where to Get an MRI

  1. 1 Input: Procedure = MRI (the calculator's default).
  2. 2 Prices in the calculator: hospital $2,500, ambulatory surgery center $1,200, clinic or imaging center $600.
  3. 3 Potential Savings: $2,500 − $1,200 = $1,300 for the surgery center over the hospital. The imaging center is $1,900 below the hospital, but the savings figure only compares the hospital with the surgery center.
  4. 4 These are fixed illustrative prices, not your share of the bill: what you pay depends on your plan's deductible, coinsurance and network. Hospitals have had to post their standard charges online since January 1, 2021, so check the facility's estimate and your insurer's cost tool before booking.

Source: CMS — Hospital Price Transparency · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the same procedure cost different amounts at different facilities?
Hospitals usually charge more than ambulatory surgery centers or independent imaging centers for the same procedure because of higher overhead, facility fees and the rates they negotiate with insurers. In this calculator's figures the hospital price runs 1.6 to 2.1 times the surgery-center price, and real prices vary widely by region and facility.
Are ambulatory surgery centers as safe as hospitals?
They are built for a narrower job. Under Medicare's definition (42 CFR 416.2) an ASC serves only surgical patients who are not expected to need hospitalization, with an expected stay of no more than 24 hours, and an ASC that takes Medicare must meet federal conditions for coverage. Patients with complex medical conditions, or procedures that may lead to an admission, may be better served in a hospital.
How can I find out procedure costs before treatment?
Hospitals are now required to publish price transparency data online. You can also request a cost estimate in advance, check your insurer's cost estimator tool, or compare prices on websites like Healthcare Bluebook or FAIR Health.

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