MRI scan fees 2026: prices at 13 private hospitals and medical centres compared, and public fees
Of the 13 Hong Kong private hospitals and medical centres Book a Doctor checked, a plain MRI brain scan costs about HK$5,500 to HK$9,990 (outpatient or standard-room price), with inpatient charges calculated separately by room class; according to the Hospital Authority Chief Executive's explanation when the reform was announced in March 2025, MRI is an Advanced item among non-emergency radiology services; from 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$500 per non-emergency MRI at public hospitals.
How much do hospitals charge for an MRI scan?
The table below lists the MRI fees published on the websites of 13 Hong Kong private hospitals and medical centres checked by this site, not all institutions in Hong Kong.
Compiled by this site: the lowest fee for a brain scan (plain) in the table is HK$5,500 (Evangel Hospital) and the highest is HK$9,990 (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital). Hospitals' pricing bases differ (outpatient, standard room or a single fee), so compare using the notes.
How this list was put together: an institution is listed when it publishes this fee on its own website and this site has checked the figures against that fee schedule. The rows are in a fixed order, not in order of price; this site does not recommend any institution, the order says nothing about quality, and the list is not every institution in Hong Kong.
| Institution | Brain (plain) | Brain (plain and contrast) | Spine, one segment (plain) | Pricing basis and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUHK Medical Centre | HK$6,580 | HK$10,500 | HK$6,580 (lumbar spine) | Outpatient price |
| Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong | HK$8,460 | HK$13,590 | — | Outpatient price |
| Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road | HK$7,644 | HK$11,290 | HK$7,260 (lumbar spine) | Outpatient price |
| Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan | HK$6,400 | HK$9,800 | — | Outpatient price |
| Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital | HK$9,990 | HK$15,970 | HK$10,120 | Outpatient / general ward price |
| St. Paul's Hospital | HK$6,430 | HK$9,940 | HK$6,130 | Outpatient price |
| Hong Kong Baptist Hospital | HK$6,740 | HK$10,200 | HK$6,740 | Outpatient / standard room price |
| HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre | HK$5,740 | HK$8,080 | HK$5,630 | With a Hospital Authority referral letter there is a separate designated fee, for example HK$3,444 for a plain brain scan |
| Canossa Hospital (Caritas) | HK$6,800 | HK$10,200 | HK$6,250 | Outpatient price |
| Union Hospital | HK$6,600 | HK$10,600 | HK$6,600 (cervical or lumbar spine) | The fee schedule lists one price only; according to the hospital's room rate schedule, for inpatients some semi-private rooms carry a surcharge of 20% to 30% and private rooms a surcharge of 75% |
| Matilda International Hospital | HK$6,930 | HK$10,260 | HK$6,930 | Standard room price (outpatient price not listed) |
| Precious Blood Hospital (Caritas) | HK$5,730 | HK$9,245 | HK$5,730 | Outpatient price |
| Evangel Hospital | HK$5,500 | HK$9,000 | HK$5,500 (lumbar spine) | Outpatient price |
MRI fees, hospital by hospital
CUHK Medical Centre MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$6,580; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$10,500; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$6,580 (lumbar spine) (outpatient price; effective 1 November 2025).
Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$8,460; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$13,590 (outpatient price; effective 1 January 2026).
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$7,644; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$11,290; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$7,260 (lumbar spine) (outpatient price; effective 1 January 2026).
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$6,400; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$9,800 (outpatient price; effective 1 June 2026).
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$9,990; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$15,970; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$10,120 (outpatient / general ward price; effective 1 August 2026).
St. Paul's Hospital MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$6,430; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$9,940; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$6,130 (outpatient price).
Hong Kong Baptist Hospital MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$6,740; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$10,200; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$6,740 (outpatient / standard room price; updated 17 December 2025).
HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$5,740; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$8,080; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$5,630 (with a Hospital Authority referral letter there is a separate designated fee, for example HK$3,444 for a plain brain scan; updated 1 April 2026).
Canossa Hospital (Caritas) MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$6,800; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$10,200; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$6,250 (outpatient price; effective 1 April 2026).
Union Hospital MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$6,600; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$10,600; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$6,600 (cervical or lumbar spine) (the fee schedule lists one price only; according to the hospital's room rate schedule, for inpatients some semi-private rooms carry a surcharge of 20% to 30% and private rooms a surcharge of 75%; effective 10 June 2026).
Matilda International Hospital MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$6,930; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$10,260; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$6,930 (standard room price (outpatient price not listed); effective 1 February 2026).
Precious Blood Hospital (Caritas) MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$5,730; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$9,245; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$5,730 (outpatient price; effective 10 June 2025).
Evangel Hospital MRI fees: Brain (plain): HK$5,500; Brain (plain and contrast): HK$9,000; Spine, one segment (plain): HK$5,500 (lumbar spine) (outpatient price; effective 2 March 2026).
What does a quotation cover?
The table shows the hospital's charge for the examination. Most hospitals list separate prices for outpatients and for each class of ward according to the patient's status; the higher the room class of an inpatient, the higher the charge.
Some hospitals state that fees are adjusted for examinations done outside office hours or in emergencies, and some state that medicines and related supplies are charged separately; whether the radiologist's fee is included is written differently by each hospital, so ask when booking.
What should I prepare before an MRI scan?
Taking the examination instructions published by St. Paul's Hospital and Union Hospital as examples, all metal objects must be removed before the examination and you change into a gown provided by the hospital; Union Hospital states that medical staff will check again for pacemakers, implants, pregnancy and allergy history.
St. Paul's Hospital states that people with a cardiac pacemaker or other medical device or metal object in the body must tell staff before the examination; for cochlear implants and cerebral aneurysm clips the model must be confirmed as meeting MRI safety standards, and people with metal fragments in the body must first have an X-ray to confirm safety.
St. Paul's Hospital states that most MRI examinations of the head, spine and joints need no fasting; an examination takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours, the machine makes noise, and the hospital provides earplugs or headphones. Requirements differ between hospitals; follow the instructions of the hospital you book.
How much does an MRI scan cost at a public hospital?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay per item for non-emergency radiology services at the Hospital Authority: Basic items (for example X-rays) are free, Intermediate items cost HK$250 per service and Advanced items HK$500 per service. When announcing the reform, the Hospital Authority Chief Executive explained that CT and MRI scans are Advanced items, that is HK$500 per item.
Ask the hospital about waiting times.
What should I ask before booking?
Is the quotation an outpatient or an inpatient price? Does it include the radiologist's reporting fee?
Is a doctor's referral letter needed? Is there a designated fee for those with a Hospital Authority referral letter?
Is a contrast agent needed? How much more does it cost?
Does the fee differ outside office hours or on holidays?
Can the hospital bill the medical insurer directly? Does it need pre-approval?
For how to pay with medical insurance, see Using medical insurance for a private specialist; for fees for other examinations: CT, Ultrasound, PET-CT, Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy.
Frequently asked questions
Why do private hospital MRI fees differ so much?
Each hospital sets its own fees, outpatient and ward-class prices differ, and some hospitals adjust fees for outside office hours or emergencies.
Is there a cheaper option?
According to the Hospital Authority Chief Executive's explanation when the reform was announced in March 2025, MRI is an Advanced item among non-emergency radiology services; from 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$500 per non-emergency MRI at public hospitals. Some private hospitals and medical centres have separate designated fees or discounts for patients referred by the Hospital Authority, for example the referral fees at HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre and the outpatient discount at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong.