Prices at 5 hospitals in Boston, MA, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $2,896 — 35% above the US median ($2,145), roughly 10.8× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tufts Medical Center | Boston, MA | $1,651 | $1,144 | ★ 2/5 | 208 min | — |
| Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary | Boston, MA | $2,130 | $424 | — | 174 min | — |
| The Shriners' Hospital for Children-Boston | Boston, MA | $2,896 | $418 | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Boston, MA | $4,270 | $1,021 | ★ 5/5 | 288 min | — |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | Boston, MA | $4,270 | $1,021 | ★ 5/5 | 300 min | — |
CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated October 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $2,896 — about 10.8× the Medicare rate ($269). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($538).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All MRI of the brain with contrast prices in Massachusetts → · All MRI of the brain with contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Boston