MRI Brain with Contrast cost in Charlotte, NC
MRI Brain with Contrast costs $1,503 to $2,267 cash across 15 hospitals within 25 miles of Charlotte.
Price range near Charlotte
Each dot is one hospital’s published cash price — cheapest on the left, most expensive on the right. Hospital-by-hospital detail below.
Hospital prices near Charlotte
Lowest published price here: Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center has the lowest published cash price in this comparison ($1,503) and Medicare's 4-star CMS rating. Combining lowest price with strong government-rated quality is often a useful starting point — your situation may call for different priorities.
→ Worth verifying with the hospital's billing office, and reading the full profile before deciding.
Information from published hospital prices and Medicare quality data. Not medical advice.
Had this procedure? Tell us what you paid — it helps the next patient
What this price typically doesn't include
Procedure codes generally cover the procedure itself. Other services that often appear on the same bill are listed under separate codes — for example:
- Anesthesia (CPT 00xxx)
- Pathology, if a sample is taken (CPT 88xxx)
- Drugs administered during the visit (J-codes)
- Facility vs. professional split — one charge from the hospital, another from the doctor
- Room and board, if the procedure is inpatient
Asking what other codes might appear on the bill is a useful follow-up so the total is not a surprise. Once you receive the bill, asking for an itemized statement listing each service code separately makes it easier to match against the disclosed prices above.
Observations about billing-code conventions. Not medical advice. Not legal advice.
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Before you schedule
If you're paying out of pocket for this brain MRI, you have a real savings opportunity: the Atrium Health locations (Pineville, University City, and Carolinas Medical Center) all charge $1,464 for the cash price, while Novant Health facilities charge $1,900 — a difference of about $436 for the exact same procedure. That's roughly 30 percent more at Novant. Since both hospital systems are established in Charlotte, it's worth calling your doctor's office to ask if they can refer you to an Atrium location instead, or ask Novant's imaging department if they'll match the lower price.
Before you schedule, call the billing department at whichever hospital you choose and confirm the $1,464 or $1,900 cash price applies to your specific situation — sometimes add-on fees apply. If you have insurance, ask what your out-of-pocket responsibility will be after they bill your plan, since that may be lower than the cash price. If you're uninsured and the cash price is tight, ask about financial assistance programs when you call — many people qualify but don't know to ask.
Questions to ask when you call
Before scheduling, call the hospital's billing department. These are the exact questions that get you the answers you need.
"What is your cash price for MRI Brain with Contrast?"
If you haven't met your deductible, the cash price may be lower than what your insurance negotiates. Many hospitals will honor their published cash price if you ask.
"What will my insurance plan pay for this, and what's my out-of-pocket?"
Get a written estimate. Ask them to include your deductible status and coinsurance percentage. This is called a "Good Faith Estimate" and you're legally entitled to one.
"Are there any other charges I should expect — radiologist, anesthesiologist, or facility fees?"
These prices are facility fees. Your doctor, radiologist, and anesthesiologist bill separately. Ask how much those could add.
MRI Brain with Contrast costs between $1,503 and $2,267 at 15 facilities near Charlotte, North Carolina. The North Carolina statewide average is $2,731.
About this market
Atrium Health operates 9 of 15 hospitals near Charlotte (60%). Prices across their facilities are identical — comparison between them won't save you money.
Atrium Health's price of $2,267 is below the North Carolina average of $2,731.
Clemmons, NC · 61 mi away · Novant Health
52 insurance plans. Cheapest: Blue Cross Blue Shield. Most expensive: Three Rivers Provider Network.
What else you should know
View full data table
| Facility | Cash Price | Gross Charge | Stars | Patient Rating | Ownership | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novant Health Presbyterian Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,503 | $3,006 | 4/5 | 65.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Novant Health Rowan Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,900 | $3,801 | 2/5 | 63.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Ballantyne Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,900 | $3,801 | — | 80.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Atrium Health LincolnAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 4/5 | 80.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health UnionAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 3/5 | 74.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health PinevilleAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 3/5 | 72.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Carolinas Medical Center-northeastAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Carolinas Medical Center/behav HealthAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Stanly Regional Medical CenterAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health University CityAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 3/5 | 66.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Atrium Health ClevelandAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | 2/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health AnsonAtrium Health | $2,267 | $4,534 | — | 81.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Mint Hill Medical CenterNovant Health | — | — | 4/5 | 81.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Novant Health Matthews Medical CenterNovant Health | — | — | 4/5 | 70.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Huntersville Medical CenterNovant Health | — | — | 4/5 | 66.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
Common questions
How much does MRI Brain with Contrast cost in Charlotte, NC?
MRI Brain with Contrast costs between $1,503 and $2,267 at 15 facilities near Charlotte, North Carolina. The median price is $2,267. The North Carolina statewide average is $2,731.
Which hospital is cheapest for MRI Brain with Contrast near Charlotte?
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center has the lowest published cash price at $1,503. It has a 4-star CMS quality rating and 65.0% patient satisfaction.
Does a cheaper hospital mean lower quality?
No. In Charlotte, the lowest-priced facility (Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center) has a 4-star CMS rating, while the highest-priced facility (Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center) has a 4-star rating.
Where does this pricing data come from?
All prices are from each hospital's federally mandated machine-readable file under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule (45 CFR Part 180). Quality ratings are from CMS Hospital Compare. We do not estimate prices. See full methodology →
Same procedure, other areas
Other procedures near you
Each hospital's prices come from its own published price file, dated per facility above. Quality and financial data compiled from CMS Hospital Compare, HCAHPS, and Medicare Cost Reports, August 2026. Full methodology →