Cost reference · 2026
Medical tourism cost comparison,
25+ procedures, six countries.
Sourced from CMS, NHS, Bupa, Healthcare Bluebook, ISAPS, ISHRS and partner-hospital quotes 2024–2025. Indicative all-in international-patient pricing — clinical fees only, not including airfare, accommodation or complications.
25+
Procedures
Across cardiac, ortho, fertility, oncology, dental, vision and more
Curated 2024–2025
6
Countries compared
China, US, UK, Thailand, India, Turkey
Top destinations
50–80%
Typical China savings vs US
For comparable clinical quality at top-tier centres
Industry data 2024
2x / yr
Refresh cadence
Pricing reviewed against partner quotes and public references
Editorial policy
Cardiac
Cardiac cost comparison
Orthopedic
Orthopedic cost comparison
Bariatric
Bariatric cost comparison
Fertility
Fertility cost comparison
Oncology
Oncology cost comparison
Regenerative
Regenerative cost comparison
Dental
Dental cost comparison
Vision
Vision cost comparison
Hair
Hair cost comparison
Screening
Screening cost comparison
Sources & methodology. US prices: CMS HCUP 2023, Healthcare Bluebook 2024, ASMBS / ASRM published rates. UK: NHS reference cost 2024, Bupa UK 2024, HFEA fertility data 2023. China: partner-hospital itemized international quotes 2024–2025 cross-referenced with NHC published price ranges. Thailand / India / Turkey: International Medical Travel Journal 2024, Medical Tourism Association country reports, public clinic-published pricing. Pricing converted at 2025 average exchange rates. Indicative only; your written quote may differ based on case complexity, length of stay and implant selection. Educational only — not medical advice.
FAQ
How to read this comparison.
- How were these prices sourced?
- Our pricing is built from three layers: (1) public reference data — CMS HCUP (US), Healthcare Bluebook 2024, Bupa UK / NHS reference cost 2024, ISAPS global survey, ISHRS practice census; (2) partner-hospital itemized international quotes from 2024–2025; (3) recent patient invoices anonymized and aggregated across our coordination volume. Pricing is indicative — the actual quote depends on case complexity, implant brand, length of stay and individual factors. We update this table at least twice a year.
- Why is China consistently cheaper than the US?
- Three structural factors: (1) lower clinical labour and facility cost; (2) volume — top Chinese centres often perform 5–20× the case volume of US peers, which spreads fixed cost; (3) regulated pricing — under the National Health Commission, public hospital pricing for tertiary services is set within published ranges, with implant procurement subject to volume-based procurement (VBP) reform. The 2023 dental VBP cut implant prices by ~50%; similar reforms have hit cardiac stents and orthopedic implants.
- Where is China cheaper than India or Turkey, and where isn't it?
- China is typically more expensive than India for elective procedures (LASIK, hair transplant, basic dental) due to higher labour cost and longer regulated stays. China is comparable to Turkey on hair transplant and dental, but typically more conservative on session size and graft estimates. Where China stands out: high-acuity oncology (proton, CAR-T), cardiac surgery (Fuwai volume), stem-cell therapy (regulatory framework), and complex multi-specialty cases — areas where India and Turkey have lower published volume.
- Should I just go to the cheapest country?
- No — and this is the most important point on this page. Cost is one factor of four: (1) cost; (2) clinical quality and case volume; (3) regulatory and safety oversight; (4) post-operative support and complication risk. A $2,000 saving on a hip replacement evaporates if you need a re-do, and air-ambulance cover for an emergency complication can run $50,000+. We recommend optimizing for clinical quality first, choosing among credible programs, and treating cost as a tie-breaker. This is why our hospital network is restricted to JCI-accredited or Class A teaching hospitals.
- Do these prices include flights, accommodation and visa?
- No. Quotes are clinical only — surgeon, anesthesia, hospital stay, standard implant, medication and core post-op visits. Excluded: airfare, accommodation, ground transport, companion fees, M-visa fee, complication treatment, and optional add-ons. Use our cost calculator (linked below) to estimate the full all-in trip cost for your home country.
- Are these prices what I will actually pay?
- We aim to publish ranges that reflect what an international patient will actually be quoted in 2026 at a credible centre — not advertised lead-in prices that exclude implants or anesthesia. Indicative does not mean guaranteed: your actual quote depends on imaging review, case complexity, length of stay, and any optional add-ons. We commit to issuing two written itemized quotes from partner hospitals before you commit to travel.
- How is medical tourism regulated in China?
- Hospitals serving international patients in mainland China must hold National Health Commission accreditation and are typically Class A teaching hospitals (the highest tier in the Chinese hospital classification system) or JCI-accredited. International patient departments are required to issue bilingual receipts, treatment plans and discharge summaries. Pricing for public-hospital tertiary services is set within published ranges. Private medical aesthetic and dental clinics require a Class I medical aesthetic license and physicians must hold full Chinese medical licenses.
Procedure-specific guides
Cardiac Surgery
CABG, TAVR, valve repair at Fuwai and Zhongshan.
Read the guideOrthopedic Surgery
Hip, knee and spine procedures at Class A centres.
Read the guideIVF & Fertility
Standard IVF, ICSI and PGT at NHC-licensed centres.
Read the guideBariatric Surgery
Sleeve, bypass and SADI-S at IFSO-recognised programs.
Read the guideCancer Treatment
Proton, CAR-T, integrative oncology and second opinion.
Read the guideStem Cell Therapy
MSC, hematopoietic, neural and umbilical-cord protocols.
Read the guideDental Tourism
Implants, all-on-4, Invisalign and veneers.
Read the guideLASIK & SMILE
Vision correction with Zeiss VisuMax and WaveLight.
Read the guideHair Transplant
FUE, DHI and ARTAS at NHC-licensed clinics.
Read the guideHealth Checkups
Executive physical, PET-CT and genetic screening.
Read the guideCost Calculator
Estimate all-in cost including travel and accommodation.
Read the guideSafety Guide
How to evaluate a destination and clinic objectively.
Read the guideWant a real, written quote?
5 business days.
We’ll return two itemized written quotes from partner hospitals — including implant brand, expected length of stay, and what is and isn’t included. No card required.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Pricing is indicative; your actual quote depends on case-specific factors. All clinical decisions are made by the treating physician at the partner hospital.