Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in San Diego
San Diego's healthcare market shows significant variation in Lower Back MRI costs across the region's major health systems and independent imaging centers. Patients in San Diego pay between $73 and $553 for a Lower Back MRI visit, with a median cost of $148 based on negotiated insurance rates. The city currently has 0 active providers in our network, including 0 individual practitioners and 0 group practices offering this service.
Cost Summary for Lower Back MRI in San Diego
Low Estimate
$73
Median
$148
High Estimate
$553
Providers
125
61% 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 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.
Is It Cheaper to See a Lower Back MRI Near San Diego?
Nearby cities offer more affordable Lower Back MRI options compared to San Diego's median of $148. Irvine and Santa Ana both show median costs of $80, representing a $68 savings over San Diego rates at a distance of approximately 77-82 miles. Riverside also provides lower costs at $103 median, saving $44 compared to San Diego and located about 87 miles away.
| City | Median Cost | vs. San Diego | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego (this city) | $148 | — | 125 |
| Irvine77.2 mi away | $80 | -$68 | 101 |
| Riverside86.6 mi away | $103 | -$45 | 39 |
| Anaheim88.8 mi away | $128 | -$20 | 22 |
Nearby cities sorted by distance. Delta = nearby city median minus San Diego median. Provider count reflects active providers for this specialty.
Lower Back MRI Visit Costs by City in California — 2026
| 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 | $54 | $154 | $501 |
| San Francisco | $71 | $148 | $447 |
| San Diego (this city) | $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.
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 |
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 — Lower Back MRI Costs in San Diego
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in San Diego without insurance?
How much more does a new patient consultation cost compared to a follow-up in San Diego?
Are there lower-cost Lower Back MRI options in cities near San Diego?
How do I find a highly rated, affordable Lower Back MRI in San Diego?
What should I expect to pay for a Lower Back MRI visit in San Diego with insurance?
How many Lower Back MRIs are currently practicing in San Diego?
Find an Affordable Lower Back MRI in San Diego — Powered by AI
Finding the right Lower Back MRI provider in San Diego at the right price requires personalized guidance based on your specific insurance plan and medical needs. Our AI-powered cost analysis can provide real-time pricing estimates and help you identify the most affordable, highly-rated providers in your area.
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 lumbar spine without contrast (CPT 72148) in San Diego, 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 72148, San Diego, 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.