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MRI scan in Portugal from the US: what the trip costs against paying at home
Prices checked 27 October 2026 (Taipei time)
Short answer
For Americans, an MRI scan in Portugal costs $548–$1,090 at the clinic we checked, or about $1,570 with a rough travel estimate added. That is about $34 more than the lowest self-pay price we found in the US ($1,530).
- Clinic price
- $548–$1,0901 provider, one body area
- With travel
- $1,570clinic $548 + about $1,020 travel (rough estimate)
- Pay privately in US
- $1,530
- Wait in US
- No national waiting list
- Cover in US
- Medicare Part B covers an MRI your provider orders; you pay 20% after the deductible. Private plans set their own rules.
- Soonest booking there
- Not published: ask in writing
- Rank from US
- 5 of 7 countries by total trip cost
Figure 1Where the money goes, in USD
Trip total $1,570$34 over home
Figure 2MRI scan: cheapest trip from the US, by country
Hospitals in Portugal that offer an MRI scan
These hospitals run a service for international patients and offer an MRI scan. Open one for how to book and what it publishes.
Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde)
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.
| 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 the US
The US has no national public waiting list; what matters is the price your insurer or the hospital charges.
Paying privately in the US: $1,530, from Hospital cash prices (JAMA Network Open study). These are 2021 hospital cash-price medians or a dental school estimate, so today’s prices are probably higher.
Can your insurer pay?
Ask your insurer before you book. Plans rarely pay for planned treatment abroad unless they have agreed in writing first.
Planning the trip from the US
- 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: US citizens (State Department, choose the country).
- 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 the US: price, how soon, and the hospitals.
Related pages
MRI scan in Portugal from the US: questions
How much is an MRI scan in Portugal for Americans?
The published prices we found work out at $548–$1,090 at the clinic, from Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde). Adding a rough travel estimate of $1,020 for a return flight and a hotel, the trip comes to about $1,570. Your own fares and dates will change that part.
Is it cheaper than paying privately in the US?
No, not on these example figures: the lowest self-pay price we found at home is $1,530, about $34 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 the US?
There is no national public waiting list in the US; the question is usually the price your insurer pays.
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 insurer pay for it?
Ask your insurer before booking. Most plans pay little or nothing for planned treatment abroad unless they agree in advance.
Sources
- Prices. Hospital da Luz Lisboa (Luz Saúde). Read 27 October 2026.
- Price transparency in hospitals: cash prices for common services (Jiang, Makary, Bai), JAMA Network Open. JAMA Network Open, via PubMed Central, 21 December 2021. Read 26 October 2026.
- Diagnostic non-laboratory tests. Medicare.gov. Read 27 October 2026.
- Euro foreign exchange reference rates. European Central Bank, 23 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.