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From Canada · CT scan · China

CT scan in China from Canada: what the trip costs against the wait at home

Prices checked 27 October 2026 (Taipei time)

Short answer

For Canadians, a CT scan in China costs C$378–C$587 at the clinic we checked, or about C$1,920 with a rough travel estimate added.

Clinic price
C$378–C$5871 provider, one CT scan of one body area
With travel
C$1,920clinic C$378 + about C$1,540 travel (rough estimate)
Pay privately in Canada
Not verified
Wait in Canada
Median 14.7 days; 1 in 10 waited over 144 days (2025)
Cover in Canada
Provincial plans pay for a CT scan a doctor orders; provinces report the waits to CIHI.
Soonest booking there
Not published: ask in writing
Rank from Canada
2 of 3 countries by total trip cost

Figure 1Where the money goes, in CAD

Trip total C$1,920

Lowest published clinic price and a rough travel estimate from Canada (return flight and hotel). The travel part is an estimate, not a quote.

Figure 2CT scan: cheapest trip from Canada, by country

Total trip in CAD: lowest to highest published price plus the same rough travel estimate. Click a country for its page for Canadians.

How soon hospitals in China can see you

At home the official figure is median 14.7 days; 1 in 10 waited over 144 days. These hospitals run a service for international patients; the booking time is each one's own words.

Published CT scan prices in China

Each row is a price the provider publishes itself, in its own currency, with what it includes. The converted amounts use a fixed European Central Bank rate.

CT scan prices in China
ProviderPublished priceWhat the price is forSource
Jiahui International HospitalShanghaiCN¥1,800about £202 · €241 · C$378 · $270CT without contrastSite states 'All prices in RMB.'Jiahui International Hospitalread 27 October 2026
Jiahui International HospitalShanghaiCN¥2,800about £314 · €375 · C$587 · $420CT with contrastSite states 'All prices in RMB.'Jiahui International Hospitalread 27 October 2026

Prices are copied as published, in the provider's currency. Conversions use the European Central Bank reference rates of 23 October 2026 and are rounded. A provider can change a price at any time: ask for a written quote.

The low prices are official maximums for the ordinary service of public hospitals, where few staff speak English. International departments and private hospitals cost far more: Shanghai International Medical Center lists ¥3,500 for an MRI of one site against the city's public cap of ¥430 (SIMC, Shanghai notice).

Entry. China's Foreign Ministry announced visa-free stays of up to 30 days for holders of ordinary British and Canadian passports from 17 February 2026 (MFA, in Chinese); the Chinese embassy in Canada lists Canada, the UK and Ireland among the unilateral visa-free countries until 31 December 2026 (embassy page, in Chinese). The 240-hour transit visa-free scheme now covers 57 countries and needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (Xinhua). We did not find an official page confirming visa-free entry for US citizens. Rules change: check before you book.

Against waiting or paying in Canada

Canada (national), 2025: Median 14.7 days; 1 in 10 waited over 144 days. Days from the decision to scan to the CT scan: median, and the wait that 1 in 10 people exceeded (April to September 2025). Waits and prices for a CT scan in Canada.

Can your provincial plan pay?

Ask your provincial health plan before you book. We have not reviewed provincial rules for planned care abroad yet, and they differ by province.

Planning the trip from Canada

  1. Get a written quoteSend the clinic your referral or reason for a CT scan and ask for an itemised price in writing, with the date and what happens if the result needs follow-up.
  2. Before you goTake your referral letter, or the question your doctor wants the scan to answer.
  3. Before you goTell the clinic in advance about kidney problems, diabetes medicines or an allergy to contrast dye.
  4. Entry rulesCheck the official advice before booking: Canadian citizens (travel.gc.ca).
  5. LanguageMandarin; English is reliable only in international departments and private hospitals.
  6. After you returnGive your doctor the report and the DICOM images.
  7. After you returnIf the scan finds something, the follow-up normally happens at home.

Compare with your wait and price at home

Compare China with every other country for a CT scan from Canada: price, how soon, and the hospitals.

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Related pages

CT scan in China from Canada: questions

How much is a CT scan in China for Canadians?

The published prices we found work out at C$378–C$587 at the clinic, from Jiahui International Hospital. Adding a rough travel estimate of C$1,540 for a return flight and a hotel, the trip comes to about C$1,920. Your own fares and dates will change that part.

Is it cheaper than paying privately in Canada?

We have not verified a self-pay price in Canada for this, so compare the trip total with a written quote from a provider at home.

How long is the wait for a CT scan in Canada?

Canada (national): Median 14.7 days; 1 in 10 waited over 144 days (2025). Days from the decision to scan to the CT scan: median, and the wait that 1 in 10 people exceeded (April to September 2025).

How many days do I need in China?

1 day for the scan and the report. That is our planning estimate, not medical advice; ask the clinic for its schedule in writing.

Will my provincial plan pay for it?

Ask your provincial health plan before booking; we have not reviewed provincial rules for planned care abroad.

Sources

  1. Centres and specialties. Jiahui International Hospital. Read 27 October 2026.
  2. Wait times for priority procedures in Canada, 2008 to 2025: data tables. Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), 25 June 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
  3. Price list (service guide). Shanghai International Medical Center (SIMC). Read 26 October 2026.
  4. Hu Yi Bao Jia Cai Fa [2025] No. 11 (沪医保价采发〔2025〕11号): radiology examination prices (in Chinese). Shanghai Municipal Healthcare Security Administration, 16 April 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
  5. Foreign Ministry spokesperson on visa-free entry for Canada and the UK from 17 February 2026 (in Chinese). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, 15 February 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
  6. Unilateral visa-free policy (单方面免签) (in Chinese). Embassy of the PRC in Canada, May 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
  7. 240-hour transit visa-free policy extended to 57 countries (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency, 20 August 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
  8. Euro foreign exchange reference rates. European Central Bank, 23 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.