A cardiologist visit costs $165 to $2,500 with tests in 2026
A cardiologist visit costs $165 to $2,500 in 2026 when you add common heart tests. ThePricer lists a new patient visit at $165 to $378, with an average of $197. Tests add to that. The same page lists an echocardiogram at $355 to $1,321 and an exercise stress test at $111 to $1,131. Hospital prices run higher than office prices, so where you go matters.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| ThePricer | ThePricer lists a new patient visit at $165 to $378 (average $197), an echocardiogram at $355 to $1,321, an exercise stress test at $111 to $1,131, and a visit with an EKG and echocardiogram at $718. |
| MDsave | MDsave lists an in-office EKG at $20 to $145, with an MDsave national average of $32 and an estimated national average of $105. |
| CareRoute | CareRoute lists a cardiac echo at $500 to $2,500 without insurance, $500 to $1,000 at a cardiology office, and $1,500 to $2,500 at a hospital outpatient department. |
Cardiologist visit and test prices
| Service | Cost without insurance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New patient visit | $165 to $378 (average $197) | ThePricer |
| Return patient visit | Average $160 | ThePricer |
| EKG, in office | $20 to $145 | MDsave |
| Exercise stress test | $111 to $1,131 (average $226) | ThePricer |
| Echocardiogram | $355 to $1,321 (average $489) | ThePricer |
| Stress echocardiogram | $379 to $1,460 (average $589) | ThePricer |
| Echocardiogram at a cardiology office | $500 to $1,000 | CareRoute |
| Echocardiogram at a hospital outpatient department | $1,500 to $2,500 | CareRoute |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Visit type | A first visit costs more than a follow up. ThePricer lists $197 on average for a new patient and $160 for a return visit. |
| Tests | An EKG is cheap, but an echocardiogram or stress test costs far more. ThePricer lists an EKG at $20 to $145 and a stress echocardiogram at $379 to $1,460. |
| Office or hospital | CareRoute says an echocardiogram costs $500 to $1,000 at a cardiology office and $1,500 to $2,500 at a hospital outpatient department. |
| Shopping around | The same test has a wide range. ThePricer lists an exercise stress test from $111 up to $1,131, so a few quotes can save real money. |
| Bundles | Doctors often do a visit and tests on one day. ThePricer models a visit with an EKG at $229, and with an echocardiogram added at $718. |
What the price includes
A visit price usually covers the talk with the doctor, an exam, and a plan. Tests are often billed on their own, such as an EKG, an echocardiogram, or a stress test. A hospital may add a facility fee. Medicines, a heart scan, and any later procedure also cost extra. Ask what the quote covers before you book. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Does insurance cover it
Most health plans cover a visit to a cardiologist when a doctor sends you there, and many cover tests the doctor says you need. What you pay depends on your plan, your deductible, and your copay. Some plans ask for a referral first, and some need approval before an echocardiogram or stress test. Check that the office and the lab are in your network. If you have no plan, ask for the self-pay price. MDsave says people without insurance, or with high deductible plans, can save by paying up front through MDsave.
When a doctor orders it
A primary care doctor may send you to a cardiologist if you have chest pain, a very fast or uneven heartbeat, or high blood pressure that does not come down. You may also go after an odd EKG or if heart disease runs in your family. The cardiologist may order tests to see how your heart works. Call 911 for chest pain that is sudden or severe.
How to judge your quote
- Does the price cover the visit only, or the visit and the tests?
- Is each test done at an office or at a hospital, and is there a facility fee?
- Did you get the self-pay price in writing before you booked?
- Is the doctor's reading of each test in the price, or billed on its own?
- Compare the total with the range above: $165 to $2,500 per visit with tests for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for the self-pay price for the visit and for each test before you book, and ask if the office gives a lower rate for paying the same day.
- Ask for an echocardiogram at a cardiology office, not a hospital. CareRoute lists $500 to $1,000 at an office and $1,500 to $2,500 at a hospital outpatient department.
- Ask your doctor why each test is needed and what it costs. Each test is billed on its own, so you can plan which ones to do first.
- Compare prices for tests at a few places. ThePricer lists an echocardiogram from $355 to $1,321, so the lowest price can be far under the highest.
- Ask for a payment plan, and ask the billing office for a lower rate if the bill is too big to pay at once.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from ThePricer, MDsave and CareRoute. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a cardiologist visit cost without insurance?
ThePricer lists a new patient visit at $165 to $378, with an average of $197. A return visit averages $160.
How much is an echocardiogram?
ThePricer lists $355 to $1,321, with an average of $489. CareRoute says $500 to $1,000 at a cardiology office and $1,500 to $2,500 at a hospital outpatient department.
How much is a heart stress test?
ThePricer lists an exercise stress test at $111 to $1,131, with an average of $226. A stress echocardiogram runs $379 to $1,460.
How much is an EKG at a cardiologist?
MDsave lists an in-office EKG at $20 to $145, with an MDsave average of $32. ThePricer lists the same $20 to $145 range.
What would a visit with tests cost in all?
ThePricer models a visit with an EKG at $229. A visit with an EKG and an echocardiogram is $718.