Cost difference
Published reference prices for selected services can be lower than common Western ranges
Chinese public-hospital costs
Indicative treatment costs at Shanghai public hospitals
Indicative self-pay totals generally include surgery, anaesthesia, major consumables, inpatient bed and routine medication.
| Specialty | Treatment | Scope | Public-hospital total | Main cost variables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthopaedics | Total knee replacement | One side; implant included | ¥80,000–120,000 | Domestic implants may cost less; imported or custom implants may cost more |
| Orthopaedics | Total hip replacement | One side; implant included | ¥80,000–120,000 | Robotic or 3D-printed custom options may reach ¥150,000–200,000 |
| Orthopaedics | Arthroscopic surgery | Meniscus or cruciate ligament | ¥20,000–50,000 | Often performed as day surgery or a short admission |
| Orthopaedics | Single-level spinal fusion | One spinal level | ¥80,000–150,000 | Cost varies with levels and fixation devices |
| Cardiovascular | Angiography plus coronary stent | One stent | ¥30,000–50,000 | Angiography alone is about ¥5,000–8,000 |
| Cardiovascular | CABG | Typical total surgical cost | ¥80,000–150,000 | Complex multi-vessel cases may reach ¥200,000–300,000 |
| Cardiovascular | TAVR | One procedure | ¥250,000–350,000 | Valve model and perioperative needs affect the total |
| Oncology | Proton or heavy-ion radiotherapy | One course | ¥278,000 | Shanghai unified-price reference |
| Oncology | CAR-T cell therapy | One treatment | ¥999,000–1,290,000 | Product, admission length and complication management vary |
| Ophthalmology | Cataract surgery with lens | One eye | ¥5,000–15,000 | Multifocal lenses are about ¥15,000–30,000 |
| Ophthalmology | SMILE or ICL vision correction | Both eyes | ¥15,000–25,000 / ¥28,000–38,000 | Technique and lens model determine cost |
| Dental | Dental implant | One tooth | ¥6,000–15,000 | Implant brand, crown and bone grafting affect cost |
| Fertility | IVF | One cycle | ¥30,000–50,000 | Medication, ICSI and PGT may be additional |
| Neurosurgery | Intracranial tumour surgery | One admission | ¥60,000–150,000 | Location, complexity and consumables affect cost |
* Figures are 2025–2026 budgeting references, not hospital quotations. Actual costs vary by condition, provider, physician, consumables, admission length and treatment plan; coordination, travel and personal expenses are excluded.
Like-for-like cost comparison
China public-hospital vs US private-hospital self-pay costs
China figures use tertiary public-hospital self-pay totals. US figures use common private-hospital self-pay or pre-insurance quotations, with CNY conversions shown alongside.
Process efficiency
With complete records, tests, consultations and next steps may be scheduled more compactly
Overall value
Compare medical charges together with waiting time, travel and recovery logistics
| Treatment | China public hospital (CNY) | US private hospital (USD) | US cost converted to CNY | Maximum difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement | ¥80,000–120,000 | $30,000–70,000 | Approx. ¥210,000–500,000 | Approx. 4–6× |
| Total hip replacement | ¥80,000–120,000 | $30,000–75,000 | Approx. ¥210,000–530,000 | Approx. 4–6× |
| Single-level spinal fusion | ¥80,000–150,000 | $50,000–150,000 | Approx. ¥360,000–1,070,000 | Approx. 4–8× |
| Angiography plus one stent | ¥30,000–50,000 | $25,000–50,000 | Approx. ¥180,000–360,000 | Approx. 4–6× |
| CABG | ¥80,000–150,000 | $100,000–200,000 | Approx. ¥710,000–1,420,000 | Approx. 6–10× |
| Liver transplant | ¥300,000–500,000 | $800,000–1,500,000 | Approx. ¥5,700,000–10,700,000 | Approx. 15–25× |
| Proton or heavy-ion radiotherapy | ¥278,000 | $125,000–200,000 | Approx. ¥890,000–1,420,000 | Approx. 3–5× |
| CAR-T cell therapy | ¥999,000–1,290,000 | $390,000–550,000 | Approx. ¥2,780,000–3,900,000 | Approx. 2–3× |
| Dental implant | ¥6,000–15,000 | $3,000–6,000 | Approx. ¥21,000–43,000 | Approx. 3–4× |
| IVF cycle | ¥30,000–50,000 | $12,000–25,000 | Approx. ¥85,000–180,000 | Approx. 3–4× |
| Intracranial tumour surgery | ¥60,000–150,000 | $60,000–150,000 | Approx. ¥430,000–1,070,000 | Approx. 5–8× |
* US figures are 2025–2026 private-hospital self-pay or pre-insurance reference ranges. CNY conversions follow the source workbook's approximate rate of USD 1 = CNY 7.1 for budgeting comparison only. Final costs vary by provider, location, condition, consumables, admission length and insurance contract.
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Fee structure
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