Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in San Francisco
San Francisco's dense healthcare market includes major systems like UCSF Health and Sutter Health, creating varied pricing across the city's imaging centers. Patients in San Francisco pay between $80 and $751 for a Brain MRI visit, with a median of $227. The city currently has 0 active providers in our network (0 individual practitioners, 0 group practices).
Cost Summary for Brain MRI in San Francisco
Low Estimate
$80
Median
$227
High Estimate
$751
Providers
161
53% below national average
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 70553 — MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 70553 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 70553 (MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 70553 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri brain. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
Is It Cheaper to See a Brain MRI Near San Francisco?
Brain MRI costs in nearby cities show significant savings compared to San Francisco's $227 median. Oakland offers similar services for $208, saving patients $19 per visit just 8.3 miles away. Both Fremont and Sunnyvale provide even greater savings at $80 median costs, representing $147 in potential savings for patients willing to travel 28-35 miles.
| City | Median Cost | vs. San Francisco | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (this city) | $227 | — | 161 |
| Oakland8.3 mi away | $208 | -$19 | 53 |
| Fremont28.3 mi away | $80 | -$147 | 26 |
| Sunnyvale35 mi away | $80 | -$147 | 15 |
Nearby cities sorted by distance. Delta = nearby city median minus San Francisco median. Provider count reflects active providers for this specialty.
Brain MRI Visit Costs by City in California — 2026
| City | Min Cost | Median Cost | Max Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roseville | $80 | $552 | $639 |
| Arcadia | $80 | $439 | $2,737 |
| South Lake Tahoe | $178 | $376 | $1,298 |
| Pomona | $80 | $291 | $1,101 |
| Fresno | $69 | $280 | $2,532 |
| La Jolla | $80 | $272 | $823 |
| Turlock | $80 | $243 | $839 |
| San Leandro | $58 | $240 | $739 |
| San Francisco (this city) | $80 | $227 | $751 |
| Loma Linda | $73 | $227 | $751 |
| Glendale | $86 | $215 | $672 |
| Rancho Mirage | $80 | $215 | $1,898 |
| Santa Rosa | $80 | $210 | $649 |
| Oakland | $60 | $208 | $842 |
| San Diego | $73 | $193 | $1,045 |
| Thousand Oaks | $85 | $187 | $556 |
| San Jose | $80 | $173 | $329 |
| Los Gatos | $80 | $173 | $717 |
| Santa Clara | $80 | $173 | $597 |
| Campbell | $80 | $173 | $552 |
| Milpitas | $126 | $173 | $173 |
| Morgan Hill | $80 | $173 | $390 |
| Ventura | $85 | $135 | $443 |
| Bakersfield | $70 | $123 | $585 |
| Tustin | $25 | $121 | $870 |
| Northridge | $76 | $121 | $470 |
| Redondo Beach | $83 | $117 | $552 |
| San Mateo | $80 | $114 | $862 |
| San Luis Obispo | $80 | $111 | $571 |
| Pleasanton | $80 | $104 | $552 |
| Los Altos | $80 | $103 | $751 |
| Riverside | $25 | $100 | $1,051 |
| Pasadena | $80 | $95 | $606 |
| West Hollywood | $90 | $90 | $420 |
| Beverly Hills | $85 | $90 | $456 |
| Marina Del Rey | $85 | $90 | $387 |
| Tarzana | $85 | $90 | $90 |
| Duarte | $25 | $90 | $918 |
| Culver City | $82 | $90 | $482 |
| Woodland Hills | $85 | $90 | $989 |
| Santa Barbara | $73 | $88 | $654 |
| Anaheim | $25 | $88 | $552 |
| Los Angeles | $80 | $85 | $539 |
| Santa Monica | $85 | $85 | $531 |
| Torrance | $80 | $85 | $552 |
| Burbank | $85 | $85 | $213 |
| Encino | $85 | $85 | $552 |
| Valencia | $85 | $85 | $506 |
| Van Nuys | $80 | $85 | $759 |
| Westlake Village | $85 | $85 | $198 |
| Mission Viejo | $25 | $85 | $494 |
| Sylmar | $52 | $85 | $596 |
| West Hills | $81 | $85 | $732 |
| Porter Ranch | $77 | $85 | $85 |
| Simi Valley | $81 | $85 | $828 |
| Manhattan Beach | $85 | $85 | $435 |
| Whittier | $35 | $85 | $552 |
| Calabasas | $80 | $85 | $85 |
| Los Alamitos | $25 | $85 | $467 |
| Santa Clarita | $83 | $85 | $90 |
| Sherman Oaks | $83 | $85 | $1,731 |
| Stanford | $80 | $80 | $315 |
| Palo Alto | $80 | $80 | $171 |
| Irvine | $25 | $80 | $500 |
| Modesto | $80 | $80 | $147 |
| Mountain View | $80 | $80 | $552 |
| Newport Beach | $25 | $80 | $634 |
| Long Beach | $25 | $80 | $806 |
| Palm Springs | $25 | $80 | $85 |
| Redwood City | $80 | $80 | $377 |
| Menlo Park | $80 | $80 | $303 |
| Santa Ana | $25 | $80 | $147 |
| Fremont | $80 | $80 | $552 |
| Fountain Valley | $25 | $80 | $299 |
| Fullerton | $25 | $80 | $572 |
| Salinas | $80 | $80 | $755 |
| Yorba Linda | $25 | $80 | $90 |
| Sunnyvale | $80 | $80 | $173 |
| Burlingame | $80 | $80 | $84 |
| Emeryville | $80 | $80 | $80 |
| Livermore | $80 | $80 | $461 |
| Laguna Hills | $25 | $60 | $441 |
| Costa Mesa | $25 | $52 | $80 |
Costs reflect self-pay estimates based on insurer-negotiated rates. Insured patients may pay significantly less depending on plan type, deductible status, and network tier.
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in California?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $75 | $80 | $505 | 10,126 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $72 | $96 | $470 | 6,585 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $70 | $85 | $672 | 15,496 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $25 | $85 | $521 | 10,242 |
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Brain MRI Costs in San Francisco
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in San Francisco without insurance?
How much more does a new patient consultation cost compared to a follow-up in San Francisco?
Are there lower-cost Brain MRI options in cities near San Francisco?
How do I find a highly rated, affordable Brain MRI in San Francisco?
What should I expect to pay for a Brain MRI visit in San Francisco with insurance?
How many Brain MRIs are currently practicing in San Francisco?
Find an Affordable Brain MRI in San Francisco — Powered by AI
Ready to find the right Brain MRI provider in San Francisco at a price that works for your budget? Our AI-powered tool can help you compare local options, verify insurance coverage, and schedule appointments with top-rated providers. Get personalized cost estimates and provider recommendations tailored to your specific needs and location preferences.
Jayant Panwar
CEO & Healthcare Data Analyst, Momentary Labs
Last updated: April 5, 2026
About This Data
Cost data sourced from Transparency in Coverage (TiC) machine-readable files published by UnitedHealthcare as required by the CMS Price Transparency Rule. These are actual negotiated rates between insurers and providers — not estimates.
Prices shown are for MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast (CPT 70553) in San Francisco, California.
Actual out-of-pocket costs depend on your insurance plan, deductible, coinsurance, and services received. This is not medical advice.
About this page
Data source: UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files, CPT 70553, San Francisco, California providers. Rates represent in-network negotiated amounts and may vary by plan type.
Editorial policy: Momentary Labs does not accept payment from providers, hospitals, or insurers to influence cost rankings or editorial content. Read our full editorial policy.
Corrections: If you believe any cost figure or clinical information on this page is inaccurate, please report it here. We review all submissions within 5 business days.