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Hospital Observation

The median cost of Hospital Observation in the United States is $210 cash pay, with prices typically ranging from $47 to $1,126 depending on the metro area. ProcedureRadar scans federally mandated hospital pricing files across 24 major US metros to show you exactly what 217 hospitals charge for this procedure. Washington DC is currently the cheapest metro at $47, while New York is the most expensive at $1,126, a difference of 2296%.

Federal Data
45 CFR Part 180
Updated Monthly
Last scan April 2026
217 Hospitals
across 24 metros
National Median (Cash Pay)
$210
$47$1,126
Typical Range
See Cheapest Near You

The cost of Hospital Observation varies from $47 in Washington DC to $1,126 in New York across 24 US metros, a difference of 2296%, based on federal Hospital Price Transparency data updated monthly.

Nationwide Snapshot

The Price Radar

24 metros, ranked by median price. Dot position is price; center bullseye is cheapest. Hover a dot to see the metro.

Hospital Observation median price by metro
MetroStateMedian PriceHospitals Reporting
AtlantaGA$23210
BaltimoreMD$623
BostonMA$1461
CharlotteNC$55417
ChicagoIL$12634
Dallas-Fort WorthTX$20122
DenverCO$3458
DetroitMI$829
HoustonTX$2826
Los AngelesCA$64436
MiamiFL$23221
MinneapolisMN$2183
New YorkNY$1,1263
OrlandoFL$2182
PhiladelphiaPA$2824
PhoenixAZ$4505
PortlandOR$6504
SacramentoCA$853
San DiegoCA$751
San Francisco Bay AreaCA$858
SeattleWA$1046
St. LouisMO$891
TampaFL$1711
Washington DCDC$479
Below median (15% lower)
Near median
Above median (15% higher)
All 24 Metros

Browse by City

Sorted by cheapest median price. Click any metro to see every hospital and its full pricing breakdown.

217 hospitals across 24 metros
Washington DC
DC
9 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$47
Baltimore
MD
3 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$62
San Diego
CA
1 hospital . Updated April 2026
$75
Detroit
MI
9 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$82
San Francisco Bay Area
CA
8 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$85
Sacramento
CA
3 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$85
St. Louis
MO
1 hospital . Updated April 2026
$89
Seattle
WA
6 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$104
Chicago
IL
34 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$126
Boston
MA
1 hospital . Updated April 2026
$146
Tampa
FL
1 hospital . Updated April 2026
$171
Dallas-Fort Worth
TX
22 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$201
Minneapolis
MN
3 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$218
Orlando
FL
2 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$218
Atlanta
GA
10 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$232
Miami
FL
21 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$232
Houston
TX
6 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$282
Philadelphia
PA
4 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$282
Denver
CO
8 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$345
Phoenix
AZ
5 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$450
Charlotte
NC
17 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$554
Los Angeles
CA
36 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$644
Portland
OR
4 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$650
New York
NY
3 hospitals . Updated April 2026
$1,126
National Leaderboard

10 Hospitals With the Lowest Hospital Observation Price

Cash pay prices, nationwide. Every hospital here publishes its pricing under 45 CFR Part 180.

Understanding This Price

The questions patients ask us most, answered clearly.

Understanding Hospital Observation Pricing

Explore More

Related Other Procedures

Pricing for similar procedures, sourced from the same 217 hospitals.

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All pricing sourced from hospital Machine-Readable Files published under 45 CFR Part 180. Updated monthly. Prices shown are median cash pay rates across 217 hospitals in 24 US metros. See our full methodology.
Prices shown are sourced from publicly available hospital pricing files required by federal law (45 CFR Part 180). Actual costs may vary based on your insurance plan, specific diagnosis, treatment complexity, and other factors. ProcedureRadar does not provide medical advice. This information is for comparison purposes only. Contact the hospital or your insurance provider for a personalized cost estimate.