Ultrasound Cost in North Dakota (2026)
Modest savings vs. the US average · ND
What Drives Pricing Here
Three factors explain most of why ultrasound 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
Limited local facility options in North Dakota can reduce price competition. Consider quotes from neighboring states if the travel is feasible.
Vs. National Benchmark
At -4.8% below the national average ($500), North Dakota is a discount market. Often driven by lower overhead or less metro concentration — quality can still be excellent.
Ultrasound in North Dakota: What to Know
Accessing ultrasound in North Dakota can present challenges, particularly in rural areas where patients often travel nearly 100 miles due to a shortage of technologists. This limited access has impacted prenatal care, with almost 15% of pregnant women in 2016 receiving insufficient care, leading to over 1,600 newborns missing initial physicals. For those seeking services, Radiology Assist offers ultrasounds in Fargo for self-pay patients, and Minot has a median price for abdominal ultrasounds from four providers.
To find more affordable options, consider Minot, where prices for an abdominal ultrasound can be significantly lower than the state average. Additionally, the North Dakota 69th Legislative Assembly's HB1594 aims to increase medical cost transparency, potentially making it easier to compare prices across facilities. Verify current pricing directly with providers.
Estimated Cost Breakdown in North Dakota
North Dakota falls slightly below the national average for ultrasound costs. Here's the typical cost breakdown.
Facility Fee
OR time and hospital staffing
Most significant cost
Radiologist Reading
Technologist 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 $476 looks like:
- Soft credit check — no hard pull
- Instant approval decisions
- HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases
Prices reflect regional cost-of-living adjustments. How we calculate these numbers →
Ranges adjusted for North Dakota's regional price parity (95.2). See the national percentage breakdown →
Ultrasound Cost in Nearby States
Compared to surrounding states, North Dakota is the most affordable option for ultrasound.
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 ultrasound cost guide.
View full ultrasound guideHow much does ultrasound cost in North Dakota?
Will my health insurance pay for ultrasound?
What fees are bundled into ultrasound costs in North Dakota?
How we calculate ultrasound 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.