Scan and test prices in Kathmandu
Average prices for 53 tests, worked out from 180 prices published by 6 hospitals and diagnostic centres in Kathmandu Valley. Last reviewed 10/2026.
| Test | Type | Average | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI brain Detailed images of the brain for headaches, seizures, stroke, dizziness and suspected tumours. | MRI scans | NPR 9,500 about US$63 | NPR 8,000 to 12,150 |
| MRI cervical spine (neck) Neck spine and spinal cord, used for neck pain, arm pain, numbness and disc problems. | MRI scans | NPR 9,500 about US$63 | NPR 8,000 to 12,100 |
| MRI lumbar spine (lower back) Lower back, discs and nerves, used for back pain, sciatica and suspected nerve compression. | MRI scans | NPR 9,500 about US$63 | NPR 8,000 to 12,100 |
| MRI whole spine Neck, mid back and lower back in one session. | MRI scans | NPR 19,500 about US$129 | NPR 14,000 to 28,100 |
| MRI knee Ligaments, meniscus and cartilage, used after sports injuries and for persistent knee pain. | MRI scans | NPR 10,400 about US$69 | NPR 8,000 to 15,500 |
| MRI shoulder Rotator cuff, tendons and joint, used for shoulder pain and injuries. | MRI scans | NPR 10,400 about US$69 | NPR 8,000 to 15,550 |
| MRI other joint (ankle, wrist, hip, elbow) Single joint MRI for injuries and long standing pain. | MRI scans | NPR 8,000 about US$53 | NPR 8,000 |
| MRI abdomen or pelvis Liver, kidneys, pancreas, uterus, ovaries or prostate, often with contrast. | MRI scans | NPR 11,400 about US$75 | NPR 10,800 to 12,000 |
| MRI prostate Prostate MRI, used when PSA is raised or to plan a biopsy. | MRI scans | NPR 12,000 about US$79 | NPR 12,000 |
| MRCP MRI of the bile ducts, gallbladder and pancreatic duct, used for stones and blockages. | MRI scans | NPR 14,800 about US$98 | NPR 12,000 to 17,500 |
| MR angiography (MRA) Blood vessels in the brain or neck, often added to a brain MRI. | MRI scans | NPR 13,500 about US$89 | NPR 13,500 |
| Contrast charge for MRI Extra charge when gadolinium contrast is injected during an MRI. | MRI scans | NPR 3,300 about US$22 | NPR 2,400 to 5,100 |
| Whole body MRI Screening style MRI of several body regions. Not offered everywhere, so always confirm what regions are included. | MRI scans | Ask the centre | |
| CT head (plain / NCCT) Fast scan of the brain and skull, used after head injury, for sudden headache and suspected stroke. | CT scans | NPR 4,200 about US$28 | NPR 3,000 to 5,200 |
| CT head with contrast (CECT) Head CT with iodine contrast to show blood vessels and some tumours. | CT scans | NPR 5,000 about US$33 | NPR 3,500 to 6,600 |
| HRCT chest High resolution lung scan, used for chronic cough, breathlessness and lung disease. | CT scans | NPR 6,700 about US$44 | NPR 4,800 to 9,000 |
| CT chest with contrast (CECT chest) Chest scan with contrast for lung masses, lymph nodes and blood vessels. | CT scans | NPR 8,600 about US$57 | NPR 6,000 to 10,300 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis (CECT) Whole abdomen and pelvis scan for pain, masses, infection and cancer staging. | CT scans | NPR 9,800 about US$65 | NPR 7,000 to 12,000 |
| CT KUB Plain CT of kidneys, ureters and bladder, the standard test for kidney stones. | CT scans | NPR 6,500 about US$43 | NPR 5,000 to 7,100 |
| CT PNS (sinuses) Paranasal sinus scan for chronic sinusitis and before sinus surgery. | CT scans | NPR 5,900 about US$39 | NPR 5,400 to 7,100 |
| CT angiography (brain / cerebral) CT of the blood vessels in the brain using contrast, for aneurysms, narrowing and stroke assessment. | CT scans | NPR 11,300 about US$75 | NPR 7,200 to 18,000 |
| CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) Contrast CT of the lung arteries, the main test for a blood clot in the lungs. | CT scans | NPR 12,400 about US$82 | NPR 10,200 to 15,800 |
| CT coronary angiography Contrast CT of the heart arteries to look for narrowing. | CT scans | NPR 17,800 about US$118 | NPR 11,000 to 22,500 |
| CT calcium score Low dose heart CT without contrast that measures calcium in the coronary arteries. | CT scans | NPR 5,000 about US$33 | NPR 4,000 to 6,000 |
| CT IVU (CT urogram) Contrast CT of the kidneys, ureters and bladder, often for blood in the urine. | CT scans | NPR 9,500 about US$63 | NPR 7,500 to 11,500 |
| CT spine Bony detail of the spine, often after injury. | CT scans | NPR 7,000 about US$46 | NPR 4,800 to 8,500 |
| PET-CT (FDG) Whole body scan using a radioactive sugar tracer, mainly for cancer staging and checking treatment response. | PET-CT and nuclear medicine | Ask the centre | |
| PSMA PET-CT PET-CT for prostate cancer staging and recurrence. | PET-CT and nuclear medicine | Ask the centre | |
| Bone scan (nuclear medicine) Whole skeleton scan for spread of cancer, hidden fractures and bone infection. | PET-CT and nuclear medicine | NPR 13,700 about US$90 | NPR 13,700 |
| Thyroid scan (nuclear medicine) Shows how the thyroid takes up a tracer, used for overactive thyroid and nodules. | PET-CT and nuclear medicine | NPR 6,800 about US$45 | NPR 6,800 |
| DTPA kidney scan Measures how well each kidney works and drains. | PET-CT and nuclear medicine | NPR 12,500 about US$83 | NPR 12,500 |
| Ultrasound whole abdomen (USG) Liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and kidneys. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 1,050 about US$7 | NPR 500 to 1,550 |
| Ultrasound pelvis Uterus, ovaries, bladder or prostate. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 600 about US$4 | NPR 600 |
| Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) Internal pelvic ultrasound for the uterus and ovaries. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 1,400 about US$9 | NPR 800 to 1,850 |
| Ultrasound KUB Kidneys, ureters and bladder. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 900 about US$6 | NPR 900 |
| Obstetric ultrasound (pregnancy) Pregnancy dating, growth and anomaly scans. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 1,500 about US$10 | NPR 1,200 to 1,850 |
| Anomaly scan (pregnancy, around 18 to 22 weeks) Detailed mid pregnancy scan of the baby's anatomy. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 3,200 about US$21 | NPR 2,700 to 3,500 |
| Ultrasound neck, thyroid, breast or small parts Thyroid, lumps, breast, testes and other superficial areas. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 1,300 about US$9 | NPR 800 to 1,700 |
| Venous Doppler ultrasound (one leg) Checks the veins of one leg for clots (DVT) or varicose veins. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 2,900 about US$19 | NPR 1,100 to 4,000 |
| Carotid Doppler Ultrasound of the neck arteries, used after a mini stroke (TIA) or dizziness. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 3,400 about US$22 | NPR 1,500 to 4,800 |
| Renal Doppler Blood flow to the kidneys, often for high blood pressure. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 4,100 about US$27 | NPR 2,000 to 6,000 |
| Fibroscan / liver elastography Measures liver stiffness to check for scarring (fibrosis) and fatty liver. | Ultrasound and Doppler | NPR 4,600 about US$30 | NPR 3,700 to 5,500 |
| Chest X-ray The basic check for lungs, heart size and chest infection. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 600 about US$4 | NPR 300 to 800 |
| Knee X-ray (two views) Front and side views of the knee for injury or arthritis. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 700 about US$5 | NPR 600 to 800 |
| X-ray (per view, other body parts) Bones and joints. Each angle (view) is usually charged separately. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 450 about US$3 | NPR 300 to 550 |
| Video X-ray: barium swallow A moving X-ray (fluoroscopy) while you swallow barium liquid, used for swallowing problems and reflux. In Nepal these contrast studies are often called video X-ray. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 2,800 about US$18 | NPR 1,800 to 3,850 |
| Barium meal / follow through Barium X-ray study of the stomach and small bowel. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 3,400 about US$22 | NPR 2,500 to 4,750 |
| IVU (intravenous urogram) Series of X-rays of the kidneys and bladder after a contrast injection. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 3,200 about US$21 | NPR 1,200 to 5,050 |
| HSG (hysterosalpingogram) X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes with contrast, used in fertility tests. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 3,700 about US$24 | NPR 2,500 to 5,000 |
| Mammography (both breasts) Breast X-ray for screening or a breast lump. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 2,500 about US$17 | NPR 1,400 to 3,500 |
| DEXA scan (bone density) Measures bone density to check for osteoporosis. | X-ray, mammography and DEXA | NPR 3,500 about US$23 | NPR 3,500 |
| Echocardiogram (echo) Ultrasound of the heart muscle and valves. | Heart and brain tests | NPR 2,400 about US$16 | NPR 1,500 to 3,200 |
| ECG Electrical tracing of the heart rhythm. | Heart and brain tests | NPR 400 about US$3 | NPR 200 to 500 |
| TMT (treadmill stress test) ECG while walking on a treadmill to check for heart strain under exercise. | Heart and brain tests | NPR 2,300 about US$15 | NPR 2,000 to 2,500 |
| Holter monitoring 24 hour portable ECG for palpitations and fainting. | Heart and brain tests | NPR 2,800 about US$18 | NPR 2,000 to 3,500 |
| EEG Records brain electrical activity, mainly for seizures. | Heart and brain tests | NPR 2,700 about US$18 | NPR 2,000 to 3,000 |
How we work out these prices
Each average comes from rate lists published by the hospitals and centres themselves. Open any test to see every centre's price, a link to the source and the date it was published. Prices are in Nepali rupees (NPR), with an approximate conversion into your currency using Nepal Rastra Bank selling rates, 22/10/2026.
Final bills can be higher if you need contrast, extra views or regions, or a separate reporting fee. Government and teaching hospitals are usually cheaper than private hospitals, but waits can be longer.
Can't find your test?
Not every centre publishes every test. If the test you need is not listed, call the hospital or centre and ask for a written quote before you book.