Los Angeles, California

Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Los Angeles

Name: MRI Lumbar Spine Cost in Los Angeles, CA (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-24

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Los Angeles hosts some of the nation's largest health systems including Cedars-Sinai and UCLA Health, creating a competitive healthcare market with varied pricing. Patients in Los Angeles pay between $54 and $501 for a Lower Back MRI visit, with a median cost of $154. The current provider network includes 0 active providers (0 individual practitioners and 0 group practices).

Low Estimate

$54

Median

$154

High Estimate

$501

Providers

211

National avg: $383Los Angeles: $154

60% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in California?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$55	$85	$654	9,774
MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast	73721	$75	$80	$505	10,126
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

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 72148 — MRI lumbar spine without 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 72148 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 72148 (MRI lumbar spine without contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 72148 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri lumbar spine. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Full data methodology and glossary

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Is It Cheaper to See a Lower Back MRI Near Los Angeles?

Among nearby cities, Torrance offers Lower Back MRI visits at a median cost of $125, which is $29 less than Los Angeles. Pasadena costs slightly more at $209, representing a $55 increase over Los Angeles rates. Long Beach pricing remains similar to Los Angeles at $159, just $5 above the city median.

Cost comparison with nearby cities
City	Median Cost	vs. Los Angeles	Providers
Los Angeles (this city)	$154	—	211
Torrance16 mi away	$125	-$29	24
Anaheim24.1 mi away	$128	-$26	22
Irvine34.9 mi away	$80	-$74	101

Nearby cities sorted by distance. Delta = nearby city median minus Los Angeles median. Provider count reflects active providers for this specialty.

Lower Back MRI Visit Costs by City in California — 2026

Lower Back MRI visit costs across cities in California
City	Min Cost	Median Cost	Max Cost
Tustin	$80	$368	$699
Roseville	$80	$368	$1,976
Thousand Oaks	$102	$368	$565
Hayward	$80	$354	$368
Travis Afb	$65	$249	$599
South Lake Tahoe	$149	$225	$669
La Jolla	$79	$216	$543
West Hollywood	$80	$206	$712
San Ramon	$62	$197	$381
Santa Monica	$63	$177	$652
Beverly Hills	$56	$177	$501
Duarte	$80	$173	$1,243
Loma Linda	$74	$168	$461
San Leandro	$75	$156	$442
Morgan Hill	$77	$155	$340
Los Angeles (this city)	$54	$154	$501
San Francisco	$71	$148	$447
San Diego	$73	$148	$553
Sacramento	$65	$144	$527
Santa Rosa	$78	$133	$387
Santa Clara	$80	$129	$356
Anaheim	$65	$128	$408
Torrance	$66	$125	$374
Santa Barbara	$51	$124	$409
Merced	$65	$123	$798
Fremont	$80	$120	$368
Pleasanton	$80	$120	$368
Los Alamitos	$80	$120	$406
Los Altos	$67	$113	$447
San Jose	$80	$111	$340
Madera	$80	$111	$160
Fresno	$65	$111	$1,223
Mountain View	$80	$111	$368
Stockton	$70	$111	$888
Milpitas	$111	$111	$340
Clovis	$65	$111	$188
Riverside	$69	$103	$525
Bakersfield	$10	$96	$431
San Mateo	$80	$96	$570
Mission Viejo	$54	$96	$431
Newport Beach	$67	$89	$435
Oakland	$71	$85	$502
Walnut Creek	$80	$85	$474
Berkeley	$54	$85	$149
Livermore	$51	$85	$302
Stanford	$80	$80	$356
Palo Alto	$80	$80	$299
Irvine	$68	$80	$373
Redwood City	$65	$80	$221
Menlo Park	$80	$80	$188
Costa Mesa	$80	$80	$80
Sunnyvale	$80	$80	$340
Modesto	$73	$80	$340
Alameda	$80	$80	$120
Laguna Hills	$35	$80	$347
Fountain Valley	$60	$80	$181
Fullerton	$64	$80	$385
Burlingame	$80	$80	$1,052
Emeryville	$80	$80	$80
Castro Valley	$45	$80	$108

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.

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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Lower Back MRI Costs in Los Angeles

What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Los Angeles without insurance?

Without insurance, Lower Back MRI visits in Los Angeles range from $54 to $501, with a median cost of $154. The actual amount depends on whether you're a new or established patient and the complexity of your condition. Many providers offer payment plans or discounted self-pay rates for uninsured patients.

How much more does a new patient consultation cost compared to a follow-up in Los Angeles?

New patient consultations typically cost more than follow-up visits due to the comprehensive initial evaluation required. While specific new patient pricing data is limited for Los Angeles, established patient visits for moderate complexity cases (CPT 99214) have a median cost of $154. First-time consultations generally range 20-40% higher than follow-up appointments.

Are there lower-cost Lower Back MRI options in cities near Los Angeles?

Yes, Torrance offers Lower Back MRI visits at a median cost of $125, which is $29 less than Los Angeles. Long Beach pricing is comparable at $159, while Pasadena costs more at $209. Traveling to nearby cities like Torrance could provide meaningful savings for self-pay patients.

How do I find a highly rated, affordable Lower Back MRI in Los Angeles?

Look for providers who offer transparent pricing and accept your insurance plan. In Los Angeles, negotiated rates range from $54 to $501 with a median of $154. Check provider directories that include patient ratings, board certifications, and clear pricing information before scheduling your appointment.

What should I expect to pay for a Lower Back MRI visit in Los Angeles with insurance?

With insurance, your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance structure. Insurance companies have negotiated rates ranging from $54 to $501 in Los Angeles, with a median of $154. Contact your insurance provider to understand your specific benefits and potential costs.

How many Lower Back MRIs are currently practicing in Los Angeles?

Current data shows 0 active providers offering Lower Back MRI services in Los Angeles, including 0 individual practitioners and 0 group practices. This may reflect data collection timing or provider network changes. Consider expanding your search to nearby cities like Torrance or Long Beach for additional options.

View all California mri lumbar spine costs