Price range near Charlotte

$1,900 to $1,900
1.0x price range North Carolina avg: $3,067

Hospital prices near Charlotte

All 6 hospitals here charge $1,900 cash for this procedure. This usually happens when one hospital system operates most facilities in a market and publishes the same chargemaster across them. Price shopping won't save you money here — but quality, safety, and financial assistance policies vary. Compare by those instead.

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Novant Health · Nonprofit · 0.0 mi Price as of Mar 2026
Cash price $1,900
4★ 65.0% satisfied
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Novant Health · Nonprofit · 0.3 mi Price as of Mar 2026
Cash price $1,900
2★ 63.0% satisfied
+0% vs lowest Compare
Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center Novant Health · Nonprofit · 0.0 mi Price as of Mar 2026
Cash price $1,900
80.0% satisfied
+0% vs lowest Compare
Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center Novant Health · Nonprofit · 0.0 mi Price as of Mar 2026
4★ 81.0% satisfied
Novant Health Matthews Medical Center Novant Health · Nonprofit · 0.3 mi Price as of Mar 2026
4★ 70.0% satisfied
Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center Novant Health · Nonprofit · 0.3 mi Price as of Mar 2026
4★ 66.0% satisfied

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

North Carolina average $3,067 — prices near Charlotte are below average
Call billing before you schedule Ask: "What is the cash price for this procedure?" — if you haven't met your deductible, it may be hundreds less than going through insurance
Expect a separate bill These are facility fees. Your doctor, radiologist, or anesthesiologist bills separately — ask about those costs too

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.

1

"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.

2

"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.

3

"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 $1,900 and $1,900 at 6 facilities near Charlotte, North Carolina. The North Carolina statewide average is $3,067.

About this market

Novant Health operates 6 of 6 hospitals near Charlotte (100%). Prices across their facilities are identical — comparison between them won't save you money.

vs North Carolina average 38% below average

Novant Health's price of $1,900 is below the North Carolina average of $3,067.

Nearest alternative Lexington Memorial Hospital INC — $1,392

Lexington, NC · 83 mi away · 3★

Insurance rates at Novant Health $339 to $3,687

52 insurance plans. Cheapest: Anthem. Most expensive: Three Rivers Provider Network.

What else you should know

29% of insurance rates exceed the cash price 45 of 157 negotiated rates at these hospitals cost more than paying cash. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate. Learn more
View full data table
FacilityCash PriceGross ChargeStarsPatient RatingOwnershipDistance
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical CenterNovant Health $1,900 $3,801 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
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 $1,900 and $1,900 at 6 facilities near Charlotte, North Carolina. The median price is $1,900. The North Carolina statewide average is $3,067.

Which hospital is cheapest for MRI Brain with Contrast near Charlotte?

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center has the lowest published cash price at $1,900. 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 →

Data compiled from 17 federal sources including CMS Hospital Price Transparency files, Hospital Compare, HCAHPS, and Medicare Cost Reports. Updated April 2026. Full methodology →