MRI and PET scan prices: Taiwan compared with paying privately at home
An MRI of one body region costs NT$8,450, about US$257, when it is added to a health check at a major hospital in Taiwan. Paying for the same kind of scan yourself has a median cash price of about US$900 to US$1,500 in the United States, costs £290 to £449 at UK private providers that publish a price, and CA$600 to CA$1,200 at a private clinic in Canada. A scan alone rarely justifies a flight. A full health check with several scans can.
MRI, one body region
| Where | Published self-pay price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan, added to a health check | NT$8,450, about US$257 | Chang Gung health examination centre, Taoyuan, price list of October 2025 |
| United States | Median about US$900 to US$1,500. From about US$250 at a freestanding imaging centre to more than US$12,000 at a large academic hospital | MyCareCost, March 2026, from the price files of more than 5,000 facilities |
| United Kingdom | £290 to £449 for one body area | TreatCompare, read 5 October 2026, and King's College London's self-pay page |
| Canada | CA$600 to CA$1,200 in Alberta. CA$675 at a clinic in British Columbia | Insight Medical Imaging, Edmonton and TreatCompare Canada, May 2026 |
Whole-body PET and whole-body MRI
- Taiwan: a whole-body PET scan is NT$36,500, about US$1,112, as an add-on at the Chang Gung health examination centre. National Taiwan University Hospital's Health Management Center lists a whole-body MRI at about NT$40,000, about US$1,218, as a reference price.
- United States: a PET scan without insurance costs from about US$1,300 to more than US$4,600 (GoodRx).
What the comparison leaves out
- Flights, hotel and your time. Our own day rates are US$100 for a guide who interprets and US$100 for a van with a driver.
- Fees for international visitors can differ from a hospital's published list. The hospital confirms yours before you book.
- Prices at home vary a great deal between imaging centres and hospitals, so ask for a cash price near you before you compare.
- Whether you need a scan at all. That is a question for a doctor, not a price list.
When the trip makes sense
- You want a full check with several tests in one day, and the results explained in person.
- You are facing a long wait at home. Our guide on waiting lists has the numbers.
- You were going to travel to Asia anyway and can add two or three days.