Costs
Medical costs in China: prices we can source
Most "China is 70% cheaper" claims online have no source. Below are only the figures we could trace. Each one says what kind of number it is, because a government price cap, a survey median and one patient's receipt are not the same thing.
How to read the table
- Government cap is the most a public hospital may charge for a defined item. Materials are often billed on top.
- Survey is a median or average from a published survey of providers.
- Patient account is one person's experience as reported in the press. It is not a quote, and your bill may differ.
| Item | Where | Price | Type | Includes / leaves out | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental implant medical service fee cap at public hospitals (per implant) | China | ¥4,500 | Government cap | Medical service fee Leaves out: Implant body and crown materials, which are priced separately |
Dental Tribune Valid to 19 Apr 2027 |
| MRI scan in Kunming, one patient's account | China | ¥486 | Patient account | One scan as described by the patient Leaves out: Not a hospital quote |
Yicai Global Valid to 15 Jan 2027 |
| Hip joint surgery in Shanghai, one patient's account | China | ¥30,000 | Patient account | Surgery and a six-day hospital stay, as described by the patient Leaves out: Not a hospital quote; travel and follow-up not included |
Yicai Global Valid to 15 Jan 2027 |
| Single dental implant, complete (national median, 2025) | United States | $4,000 | Survey | Complete implant as defined by the survey Leaves out: Check the survey for whether bone grafting and imaging are included |
Dental Economics Valid to 19 Apr 2027 |
| Stomach examination and treatment in China, one UK patient's account | United Kingdom | £300 | Patient account | 13 days of examination and treatment, as reported Leaves out: Not a hospital quote |
Caixin Global Valid to 5 Feb 2027 |
Why we do not show a "you save" percentage
A fair comparison needs the same procedure, the same materials and the full bill on both sides, plus flights, hotel, time off work and follow-up at home. We do not have that for any treatment yet, so we do not print a savings figure.
International departments at public hospitals can cost three to five times more than a standard outpatient visit at the same hospital, according to reporting by Caixin. When you compare quotes, ask which service line each quote is for. The hospital index explains the difference between international departments and standard clinics.
Costs that are easy to forget
| Item | Why it matters | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Visa and entry | Treatment is not a listed purpose for visa-free entry, so many patients need an S2 visa. | Visa guide |
| Payment fees and limits | Mobile payment has per-transaction and annual caps for visitors; card fees depend on your bank. | Payment guide |
| Translation of records | Hospitals may ask for translated documents in advance. | Preparing for a visit |
| A second trip | Some care, such as dental implants, may need more than one visit. | Treatments |
| Coordination | Optional. Our fee is shown before you agree. | Pricing |
City matters less than service line
We have not found published price comparisons between Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen for the same care. The bigger difference we can document is between a hospital's international department and its standard clinic, so ask about that first.
Costs by kind of care
The care we cover first, and how each one usually fits into a trip. Detailed price pages will follow once each treatment page has passed medical review.
| Care | Trip planning | Risk level (our planning category) | Detailed page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health checkups | Usually one trip | Low | In medical review |
| MRI and CT imaging | Usually one trip | Low | In medical review |
| Dental implants | May need more than one trip | Medium | In medical review |
Getting a real quote
Only the hospital can quote for your case, usually after it has seen your records. If you want, we can request written estimates from hospitals on your behalf and show you exactly what each one includes. Our verification method explains how we label prices once hospitals publish or confirm them.
Questions to ask about any quote
- Is this quote for the international department or the standard clinic?
- Which items are included: consultation, tests, procedure, materials, medicines, nursing?
- What could be added on the day, and roughly how much?
- Which currency, and can I pay by international card?
- Is the quote valid for a fixed period?
Frequently asked questions
Is medical care in China cheaper than in the US?
For some items the traceable numbers suggest so. A 2025 survey put the US median for a complete dental implant at US$4,000; China caps the public hospital service fee for an implant at CNY 4,500, with materials extra. Compare full quotes before deciding.
Why are there so few prices?
We only show figures we can trace to a source. We would rather show five honest numbers than fifty invented ones.
Do prices include the international department surcharge?
Not necessarily. Ask each hospital which service line its quote is for.
Sources
- China Draws More Foreign Patients, but Medical Tourism Is Still a Niche, Caixin Global, 5 Feb 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026. Partly paywalled.
- China Draws Growing Number of Medical Tourists Seeking Faster, Cheaper Care, Yicai Global, 15 Jan 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026.
- A comparative analysis of dental implant costs across major US markets, Dental Economics, 1 Jan 2025. Read 19 Oct 2026. Survey of 278 practices in six US metro areas.
- China caps cost of dental implant treatment, Dental Tribune. Read 19 Oct 2026. Cap applies to the medical service fee at public hospitals; implant and crown materials are priced separately.
- China raises mobile payment limits for foreign visitors, The State Council of the PRC (english.gov.cn, relaying Xinhua), 2 Mar 2024. Read 19 Oct 2026. Announced by PBOC deputy governor Zhang Qingsong.