2026 Medical Cost Index: What Procedures Cost by Country (US/UK/AU vs China)
The 2026 Medical Cost Index, in one line: across imaging, dental and health-checkup care, SinoCareLink's starting prices in China are lower than the lowest self-pay prices in the US, UK, Australia and Canada on seven of the eight procedures in this index — by up to about 90% (a single-region CT, against the US); for whole-body PET-CT our Shenzhen price (US$1,299) is about the same as the lowest US cash price. An MRI is from US$200 (vs US$400–3,000 in the US), a full-body checkup from US$399, and a single dental implant from US$799.
This index compares the typical self-pay (out-of-pocket) cost of common medical procedures across seven of the world's major patient-origin markets and China. It is intended as a neutral reference for international patients weighing where to have non-urgent care. China figures are SinoCareLink's published coordination prices at our partner hospitals and dental clinics; figures for other countries are representative published self-pay ranges (see Methodology & sources).
2026 self-pay price comparison by country
| Procedure (self-pay) | United States | United Kingdom | Australia | Canada | Singapore | UAE | Germany | China (SinoCareLink) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-body PET-CT | $1,300–7,000 | $2,500–4,000 | $2,000–5,500 | $1,800–2,600 | $1,800–2,800 | $1,800–2,300 | $1,350–2,200 | from $1,299 |
| MRI (one region) | $400–3,000 | $500–1,300 | $250–850 | $600–900 | $500–900 | $700–1,300 | $500–900 | from $200 |
| CT scan (one region) | $1,000–3,000 | $500–1,000 | $150–550 | $400–900 | $300–700 | $400–900 | $300–600 | $100 |
| Mammography | $150–500 | $250–450 | $150–300 | $150–300 | $120–250 | $150–300 | $120–250 | $100 |
| Full-body health checkup | $2,000–5,000 | $1,000–2,500 | $800–2,000 | $900–2,900 | $300–1,800 | $800–2,000 | $700–1,500 | from $399 |
| Colonoscopy + gastroscopy (sedated) | $3,000–6,000 | $2,400–4,500 | $1,500–2,800 | $1,800–3,200 | $1,200–2,500 | $1,500–3,000 | $1,000–2,000 | $400 |
| Single dental implant + crown | $3,000–5,000 | $2,500–3,200 | $3,300–5,500 | $2,200–4,400 | $2,600–4,500 | $2,200–4,100 | $1,600–3,200 | $799–3,599 |
| Teeth whitening (in-office) | $300–1,000 | $350–700 | $300–650 | $400–800 | $370–1,100 | $400–800 | $325–865 | $169 |
All figures in USD. Foreign figures are representative self-pay ranges for 2026 and vary by city, provider and insurance status. China figures are SinoCareLink coordination prices and exclude travel and accommodation. US PET-CT low end: published cash price at a standalone imaging centre (retrieved 2026-09-04); high end: hospital self-pay. UK and German teeth-whitening prices are for gels of 6% hydrogen peroxide or less, the legal limit there. Last updated 2026.
What the numbers show
The widest gaps are in sedated endoscopy and CT (see table). PET-CT is closer: a whole-body scan is coordinated in China from about US$1,299 (Shenzhen) — below UK private self-pay, but close to the low end in Germany and to US cash-pay imaging centres. Where the gap is large, it reflects local cost structure rather than any difference in the scan itself: the procedures are standardized and equipment-led. For patients in countries with long public waiting lists, the time saving can be as significant as the price.
Why China is the value destination
China's lower prices reflect lower local labour, facility and overhead costs — not lower standards. Care in this index is delivered by licensed physicians and dentists at our partner hospitals and dental clinics — depending on the city and procedure, a tertiary hospital, the top level of China's hospital system, or another licensed medical centre; dental treatment is at a partner dental clinic. SinoCareLink, a China-based medical care coordination service, arranges appointments, English-language support and translated reports so international patients can access this care without language or logistics barriers.
Methodology & sources
China column: SinoCareLink published coordination prices (2026), drawn from our medical imaging, dental and health-checkup cost guides.
Other countries: representative self-pay (out-of-pocket) ranges compiled from publicly available private-pay and hospital self-pay price data, cross-checked in 2026 against sources including FAIR Health and MDsave (US); Bupa, Spire and PHIN (UK); the GOÄ / GOZ fee schedules (Germany); published private-radiology and dental-association fee guides (Australia & Canada); Singapore's Ministry of Health fee benchmarks; and DHA and clinic price data (UAE). Ranges are indicative and vary by city, facility, provider and insurance status.
Note on Australia & Canada: most of these procedures are normally publicly funded there, so the figures shown are private self-pay prices for the minority of patients who pay out of pocket — not a typical insured patient's cost.
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Get a free quoteFrequently asked questions
Which country is cheapest for medical procedures in 2026?
In this index SinoCareLink's starting price in China is the lowest on every procedure except the full-body checkup, where Singapore's lowest self-pay prices start below ours. An MRI is from US$200, a full-body checkup from US$399 and a single dental implant from US$799. How far below home-country prices depends on the procedure — from almost nothing for whole-body PET-CT against US cash-pay imaging centres to about 90% for a CT scan against US prices — so check the table row by row.
Are these prices all-inclusive?
China figures are SinoCareLink's published coordination prices for the procedure at our partner hospitals and dental clinics. They exclude flights and accommodation. Foreign figures are representative self-pay ranges and vary by city, provider and insurance status.
Why are prices in China lower for most procedures?
The gap reflects lower local labour, facility and overhead costs — not lower standards. Procedures are performed by licensed physicians and dentists at our partner hospitals and dental clinics.
Does SinoCareLink provide the medical care?
No. SinoCareLink is a medical-travel coordination service, not a healthcare provider. All clinical care is delivered by licensed physicians and dentists at our partner hospitals and dental clinics; we handle booking, English-language support and translated reports.
SinoCareLink is a trading name of Soul Haven Limited (Hong Kong). SinoCareLink is a medical-travel coordination service and not a healthcare provider; all clinical care is delivered by licensed physicians and dentists at partner hospitals and dental clinics.