San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA

San Diego ER Visit Cost

This page is for uninsured patients or those with high deductibles who want to compare ER prices before they go. It's also useful after a visit for comparing charges and negotiating with the hospital. The ER level fee is typically one of the highest line items on a facility bill.

ER Level 1 Average Cash Price

ER level 1: Usually a very limited emergency department service. The services are provided by ancillary staff rather than the same physician or qualified health professional structure used for higher ED visit levels.

$2,750

45.08x Medicare rate

ER Level 2 Average Cash Price

ER level 2: Straightforward medical decision making: a minimal problem, no tests or records analyzed, and negligible risk from the management options considered.

$1,478

15.3x Medicare rate

ER Level 3 Average Cash Price

ER level 3: Low medical decision making: low-complexity problems such as multiple minor issues, a stable chronic problem, or a straightforward acute illness or injury, with limited data review and below-average management risk.

$1,903

11.79x Medicare rate

ER Level 4 Average Cash Price

ER level 4: Moderate medical decision making: a worsening chronic problem, multiple stable chronic problems, an undiagnosed higher-risk new problem, unexpected acute symptoms, or a complex injury, with moderate data workup and average management risk.

$3,706

17.57x Medicare rate

ER Level 5 Average Cash Price

ER level 5: High medical decision making: a severe chronic problem or an acute or chronic problem or injury that may threaten life or bodily function, with extensive data review and above-average management risk such as hospitalization or urgent high-risk treatment decisions.

$8,030

23.54x Medicare rate

Cash Price Coverage

10 of 14 ER locations

Last UpdatedJun 10, 2026

Big ER Bill? What To Do Now

ER Visit Cost without Insurance

ER visit costs can vary as they can include a facility fee, clinician bill, labs, imaging, medication, transport, and insurance-specific out-of-pocket responsibility. We compare ER cost based on one service every ER visit would have: Level of Emergency Department visit for the evaluation and management of a patient. These figures are source data points, not guarantees of the final bill.

San Diego ER Cash Price Map

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Showing 1-5 of 14 ER locations

Showing 1-10 of 14 ER locations

Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San MarcosVoluntary non-profit - Private

ER service level cash price

ER level 1

Unavailable

No cash price

ER level 2

Unavailable

No cash price

ER level 3

Unavailable

No cash price

ER level 4

Unavailable

No cash price

ER level 5

Unavailable

No cash price

Overall rating: Not available
Dataset version: Unavailable

Paradise Valley HospitalProprietary

ER service level cash price

ER level 1

$107

Below average

ER level 2

$196

Below average

ER level 3

$349

Below average

ER level 4

$534

Below average

ER level 5

$762

Below average

Overall rating: 3 stars
Dataset version: 2026-03-17

Tri-City Medical CenterGovernment - Hospital District or Authority

ER service level cash price

ER level 1

$377

Below average

ER level 2

$679

Below average

ER level 3

$1,176

Below average

ER level 4

$1,952

Below average

ER level 5

$2,860

Below average

Overall rating: 2 stars
Dataset version: 10/3/2025

Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasVoluntary non-profit - Private

ER service level cash price

ER level 1

$210

Below average

ER level 2

$328

Below average

ER level 3

$604

Below average

ER level 4

$2,940

Below average

ER level 5

$3,937

Below average

Overall rating: 5 stars
Dataset version: 2026-03-30

Scripps Memorial Hospital La JollaPhysician

ER service level cash price

ER level 1

$210

Below average

ER level 2

$328

Below average

ER level 3

$604

Below average

ER level 4

$2,940

Below average

ER level 5

$3,937

Below average

Overall rating: 5 stars
Dataset version: 2026-03-30

Emergency room cost data by facility
Facility Name	Overall Rating	ER service level cash price					Dataset Version
Facility Name	Overall Rating						Dataset Version
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San MarcosVoluntary non-profit - Private	Not available	Unavailable No cash price	Unavailable No cash price	Unavailable No cash price	Unavailable No cash price	Unavailable No cash price	Unavailable
Paradise Valley HospitalProprietary	3 stars	$107 Below average	$196 Below average	$349 Below average	$534 Below average	$762 Below average	2026-03-17
Tri-City Medical CenterGovernment - Hospital District or Authority	2 stars	$377 Below average	$679 Below average	$1,176 Below average	$1,952 Below average	$2,860 Below average	10/3/2025
Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasVoluntary non-profit - Private	5 stars	$210 Below average	$328 Below average	$604 Below average	$2,940 Below average	$3,937 Below average	2026-03-30
Scripps Memorial Hospital La JollaPhysician	5 stars	$210 Below average	$328 Below average	$604 Below average	$2,940 Below average	$3,937 Below average	2026-03-30
Scripps Mercy HospitalVoluntary non-profit - Private	3 stars	$210 Below average	$328 Below average	$604 Below average	$2,940 Below average	$3,937 Below average	2026-03-30
Palomar Medical Center PowayGovernment - Hospital District or Authority	4 stars	$355 Below average	$1,222 Below average	$1,843 Around average	$3,512 Around average	$4,294 Below average	2025-11-01
Grossmont HospitalGovernment - Hospital District or Authority	3 stars	$7,079 Above average	$3,032 Above average	$3,564 Above average	$5,850 Above average	$15,436 Above average	04/01/2026
Sharp Chula Vista Medical CenterProprietary	4 stars	$7,079 Above average	$3,032 Above average	$3,564 Above average	$5,850 Above average	$15,436 Above average	04/01/2026
Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr CtrProprietary	5 stars	$7,079 Above average	$3,032 Above average	$3,564 Above average	$5,850 Above average	$15,436 Above average	04/01/2026

Showing 1-10 of 14 ER locations

Data Sources

Cash-price values are from each facility's latest standard charges file published on its website. The average comparison note uses the city average for the same ER service level: around average means within a +/-10% band, above average means more than 10% above, and below average means more than 10% below. Hospital ownership labels and hospital overall ratings come from the CMS Hospital General Information dataset. CMS ratings are a broad summary, not a perfect measure of whether a hospital is best for a specific service.

Why ER level 4 is the default sort

ERcost defaults to ER level 4 because recent commercial ED spending research shows higher-intensity emergency department visit codes now represent a large share of billed visits. This default is based on the Health Affairs study Price Increases Versus Upcoding As Drivers Of Emergency Department Spending Increases, 2012-19 and its ED spending analysis. By 2019, level 4 was the single most common level among ER levels 3, 4, and 5, with level 5 close behind. Level 4 is a practical default for comparison, but actual coding depends on the care documented for a specific visit.

Hit with a big ER bill in San Diego?

Start by checking the bill for errors, asking about discounts or financial assistance, and using your state's medical-debt rules before you respond to collections.

What you can do now

Request an itemized bill with billing codes, verify that every charge matches the services you actually received, and check whether your bill qualifies for No Surprises Act protections.
Ask the hospital about cash-pay or lump-sum discounts, and apply for financial assistance if you qualify.
Use FAIR Health or Bill Sherlock to check if your ER bill is reasonable.
Use Dollar For to apply for hospital financial assistance at no cost.
Hire a medical billing advocate to review your bill. Most work on contingency, charging only when they successfully reduce what you owe.
Keep every bill, denial, and collection notice. The dates matter if you need to challenge credit reporting, wage garnishment, or a lawsuit filed too late.

California medical-debt rules

Medical-debt credit reporting: State law limits furnishing, reporting, and use of medical-debt information in credit decisions, effective July 1, 2025.
Wage garnishment: More protective than federal. Generally 20% of disposable earnings, with a hardship claim available.
Deadline to sue (statute of limitations): 4 years for written contracts.

State medical debt rules

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