Knee Replacement Surgery Cost in North Dakota (2026)
Modest savings vs. the US average · ND
What Drives Pricing Here
Three factors explain most of why knee replacement surgery costs what it does in North Dakota.
Regional Price Parity
North Dakota's cost-of-living index sits at 95.2 — meaningfully below the national benchmark (100). This directly scales facility and staffing overhead, which flow through to every procedure price.
Specialist Availability
9 facilities perform this procedure in North Dakota — competition keeps pricing honest and gives you real leverage to shop quotes.
Vs. National Benchmark
At -4.8% below the national average ($35,000), North Dakota is a discount market. Often driven by lower overhead or less metro concentration — quality can still be excellent.
Knee Replacement Surgery in North Dakota: What to Know
North Dakota offers advanced options for knee replacement. Sanford Health in Fargo boasts a "Center for Joint Success" specializing in total joint replacements, while their Bismarck facility provides robotic-assisted and partial knee surgery. CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck also utilizes the ROSA Knee robotic system, and Altru Health System in Grand Forks employs the Mako™ Robotic Arm for customized surgical planning using 3D models.
For potential cost savings, consider Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in North Dakota, which can reduce out-of-pocket expenses significantly compared to hospitals. You'll find a 24% savings at a surgery center versus an outpatient hospital for this procedure. Patients should also be aware that extensive travel is generally advised against for at least six weeks post-surgery. Verify current pricing directly with providers.
Estimated Cost Breakdown in North Dakota
North Dakota falls slightly below the national average for knee replacement surgery costs. Here's the typical cost breakdown.
Facility Fee
OR time and hospital staffing
Most significant cost
Surgeon Fee
Expertise and experience level
Implants & Supplies
Post-Op Care
Recovery and aftercare
Anesthesia
Anesthesiologist or CRNA fee
Total Estimated Cost
North Dakota all-in range
Financing Options
Many North Dakota clinics partner with CareCredit or Alphaeon. A typical 24-month, 0% APR term on $33,320 looks like:
- Soft credit check — no hard pull
- Instant approval decisions
- HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases
Based on CMS Medicare data and regional price parities. Learn about our methodology →
Ranges adjusted for North Dakota's regional price parity (95.2). See the national percentage breakdown →
Facility Costs in North Dakota
North Dakota has both hospital and outpatient surgery center options for knee replacement surgery. Outpatient centers typically charge less due to lower overhead. Rates shown are negotiated amounts — what insurers actually pay, not inflated list prices.
| Facility | City | Negotiated Rate | Medicare | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | Fargo | $12,816 | $11,216 | 760 |
| Chi St Alexius Health | Bismarck | $12,778 | $11,178 | 552 |
| Essentia Health Fargo | Fargo | $12,819 | $11,218 | 299 |
| Sanford Medical Center Bismarck | Bismarck | $12,819 | $11,219 | 280 |
| Altru Hospital | Grand Forks | $13,632 | $12,031 | 254 |
| Trinity Hospitals | Minot | $13,565 | $11,964 | 225 |
| Facility | City | Negotiated Rate | Medicare | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | Fargo | $15,188 | $12,472 | 56 |
| Essentia Health Fargo | Fargo | $13,677 | $12,225 | 29 |
| Chi St Alexius Health | Bismarck | $13,789 | $12,082 | 16 |
Knee Replacement Surgery Cost in Nearby States
North Dakota has the lowest knee replacement surgery costs in the region. Neighboring states all run higher — here's how they compare.
Expert Answers for North Dakota Patients
Local regulations, insurance nuance, and surgical standards specific to North Dakota.
Compare North Dakota with any other state
See national pricing, all 50 state comparisons, and detailed cost factors in the main knee replacement surgery cost guide.
View full knee replacement surgery guideHow much does knee replacement surgery cost in North Dakota?
Does insurance cover knee replacement surgery?
How long is recovery after knee replacement surgery?
How can I finance knee replacement surgery in North Dakota?
How do I compare knee replacement surgery facilities in North Dakota?
Does North Dakota Medicaid cover knee replacement surgery?
Is knee replacement surgery eligible for HSA/FSA funds?
How we calculate knee replacement surgery costs in North Dakota
Cost estimates combine procedure-specific pricing data with regional cost-of-living and provider-supply adjustments. Primary sources:
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Hospital pricing transparency files — CMS-required machine-readable data published by hospitals under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule (effective January 2021). Provides actual negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers.
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HCUP (Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project) — AHRQ's HCUP databases provide nationally-representative procedure cost data by state, payer, and patient demographics.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics — Healthcare Practitioner Occupational Wages — BLS OEWS data on surgeon, anesthesiologist, and surgical staff wages by state, used to model regional labor-cost differences in procedure pricing.
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BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis state-level price-level indices, used to adjust national procedure averages for North Dakota's cost-of-living relative to the national mean.
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FAIR Health Consumer Cost Lookup — the FAIR Health database aggregates billed and allowed amounts from over 36 billion claim records, providing a check on procedure-cost ranges by ZIP code.
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Medicare Provider Utilization & Payment Data — CMS public-use files on Medicare-allowed amounts and submitted charges by HCPCS/CPT code and state, used as a baseline for procedure-cost ranges.
Estimates are illustrative and reflect typical pricing ranges; actual costs depend on insurance coverage, surgical complexity, anesthesia type, hospital vs. ambulatory setting, and individual patient factors. Always confirm pricing directly with providers and your insurance carrier. See our methodology page for full calculation details.