From Canada · MRI scan · Portugal

MRI scan in Portugal from Canada: what the trip costs against the wait at home

Prices checked 27 October 2026 (Taipei time)

Short answer

For Canadians, an MRI scan in Portugal costs C$768–C$1,520 at the clinic we checked, or about C$2,150 with a rough travel estimate added. That is about C$1,400 more than the lowest self-pay price we found in Canada (C$749).

Clinic price: C$768–C$1,5201 provider, one body area
With travel: C$2,150clinic C$768 + about C$1,380 travel (rough estimate)
Pay privately in Canada: C$749–C$799
Wait in Canada: Median 59 days; 1 in 10 waited over 206 days (2025)
Cover in Canada: Provincial plans pay for an MRI a doctor orders; provinces report the waits to CIHI.
Soonest booking there: Not published: ask in writing
Rank from Canada: 5 of 7 countries by total trip cost

Figure 1Where the money goes, in CAD

Clinic C$768Travel ~C$1,380Home C$749

Trip total C$2,150C$1,400 over home

Lowest published clinic price and a rough travel estimate from Canada (return flight and hotel); the amber line is the lowest self-pay price at home. The travel part is an estimate, not a quote.

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

PolandC$1,710–C$1,810

MexicoC$1,720

ChinaC$1,770–C$3,040

HungaryC$1,790–C$1,830

PortugalC$2,150–C$2,900

ThailandC$2,290

JapanC$2,390

Total trip in CAD: lowest to highest published price plus the same rough travel estimate. The dashed line is the lowest self-pay price at home. Click a country for its page for Canadians.

How soon hospitals in Portugal can see you

At home the official figure is median 59 days; 1 in 10 waited over 206 days. These hospitals run a service for international patients; the booking time is each one's own words.

Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde)

Lisbon · PrivateJCI

No booking time published: ask in writing

2 published pricesDetails

Published MRI scan prices in Portugal

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.

MRI scan prices in Portugal
Provider	Published price	What the price is for	Source
Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde)Lisbon	€490 to €970about £410–£812 · C$768–C$1,520 · $548–$1,090	Ressonância magnética (sem contraste)Without contrast. Price table says it excludes clinical consumables and drugs 'Preços em vigor a partir de 20 de fevereiro de 2026'; 'sujeitos a alteração sem aviso prévio'.	Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde)read 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.

Against waiting or paying in Canada

Canada (national), 2025: Median 59 days; 1 in 10 waited over 206 days. Days from the decision to scan to the MRI: median, and the wait that 1 in 10 people exceeded. Waits and prices for an MRI scan in Canada.

Paying privately in Canada: C$749–C$799, from Insight Medical Imaging.

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

Get a written quoteSend the clinic your referral or reason for an MRI scan and ask for an itemised price in writing, with the date and what happens if the result needs follow-up.
Before you goGet your home doctor's referral letter or the question they want answered; take it with you.
Before you goBook the scan before the flights and ask for the appointment in writing.
Before you goCheck your travel insurance covers medical procedures abroad. Many policies do not.
Entry rulesCheck the official advice before booking: Canadian citizens (travel.gc.ca).
LanguagePortuguese; private hospitals that serve foreigners work in English.
After you returnGive your doctor the report and the DICOM images. An English report saves a translation step.
After you returnIf the report finds something, the follow-up (more tests, treatment) normally happens at home.

Compare with your wait and price at home

Compare Portugal with every other country for an MRI scan from Canada: price, how soon, and the hospitals.

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MRI scan in Portugal from Canada: questions

How much is an MRI scan in Portugal for Canadians?

The published prices we found work out at C$768–C$1,520 at the clinic, from Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde). Adding a rough travel estimate of C$1,380 for a return flight and a hotel, the trip comes to about C$2,150. Your own fares and dates will change that part.

Is it cheaper than paying privately in Canada?

No, not on these example figures: the lowest self-pay price we found at home is C$749, about C$1,400 less than the cheapest trip. It can make sense if you are already travelling to Portugal.

How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Canada?

Canada (national): Median 59 days; 1 in 10 waited over 206 days (2025). Days from the decision to scan to the MRI: median, and the wait that 1 in 10 people exceeded.

How many days do I need in Portugal?

1 day for the scan; add a day if the clinic wants a doctor to see you first. 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

Prices. Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde). Read 27 October 2026.
Magnetic resonance (MRI). Insight Medical Imaging (Alberta). Read 26 October 2026.
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.
Euro foreign exchange reference rates. European Central Bank, 23 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.