X-Ray Cost in Poland
What you actually pay for an X-ray (RTG) on the NFZ, at private radiology centres and through medical subscriptions, plus CT, MRI and ultrasound prices. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Poland?
If you are insured with the NFZ and a doctor gives you a referral (skierowanie), the X-ray is free, and emergency X-rays at a hospital SOR need no referral. Paying privately, a plain X-ray costs roughly 50–180 zł (about $13–46): the average private chest X-ray is around 57 zł nationally, while Warsaw radiology centres charge about 110–140 zł per projection and 160–180 zł for a two-view study. A dental pantomogram costs about 70–120 zł, and a private MRI starts at roughly 500 zł per area.
Quick Overview
Poland's public health insurer, the Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (NFZ), is funded by a mandatory health contribution (składka zdrowotna) of 9% of salary for employees. Insured patients pay nothing for X-rays ordered on a referral at facilities with an NFZ contract — and many private chains, including LUX MED and Medicover, hold NFZ contracts at some sites. A family doctor (lekarz POZ) can order X-rays and ultrasound directly; CT and MRI usually need a specialist's referral. Private, self-pay X-rays are inexpensive by Western European standards: published prices range from about 50 zł in smaller cities to 180 zł for a two-view study in Warsaw.
🏥 NFZ (public)
- Requires NFZ insurance (check status in eWUŚ)
- Referral (e-skierowanie) from a family doctor or specialist
- Any NFZ-contracted facility, public or private
- Emergency (SOR) X-rays: no referral needed
🏥 Private self-pay
- Per X-ray exam; ≈ $13–46
- Cheapest outside Warsaw (chest ~50–65 zł)
- Usually same-day or next-day
- Some centres accept self-referral — call first
💳 Medical subscription
- *Basic X-rays included in many abonament packages
- LUX MED, Medicover, Enel-Med, PZU Zdrowie
- Usually ordered by the network's own doctor
- CT/MRI often only in higher-tier packages
X-Ray Prices in Poland by Exam: NFZ vs Private
Polish centres price X-rays per projection (projekcja), so a two-view study (e.g. AP + lateral) costs more than a single view. The low end of each private range reflects national price-aggregator averages and smaller-city centres; the high end reflects Warsaw radiology price lists for two-view studies.
| Exam | NFZ (with referral) | Private self-pay (PLN) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (RTG klatki piersiowej) | Free | 50–170 zł | $13–43 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray | Free | approx. 60–160 zł | $15–41 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray | Free | approx. 60–180 zł | $15–46 |
| Knee X-ray | Free | approx. 60–160 zł | $15–41 |
| Cervical spine X-ray | Free | 55–160 zł | $14–41 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray | Free | 55–180 zł | $14–46 |
| Pelvis / hip X-ray | Free | approx. 60–190 zł | $15–49 |
| Abdomen X-ray | Free | approx. 60–130 zł | $15–33 |
| Dental panoramic (pantomogram) | Limited — via NFZ dentist | 70–120 zł | $18–31 |
| Single-tooth dental X-ray | Limited — via NFZ dentist | approx. 45–50 zł | $12–13 |
| Ultrasound (abdomen) | Free (GP or specialist referral) | approx. 175–230 zł | $45–59 |
| CT scan (per area) | Free (specialist referral) | approx. 500–950 zł | $128–243 |
| MRI scan (per area) | Free (specialist referral) | 500–700 zł; 1,000–1,600 zł multi-section / contrast | $128–179; $256–409 |
Private ranges compiled from: kb.pl national price data published April 2026 (chest X-ray range 48–68 zł, average about 57 zł; spine about 75 zł in Łódź; abdominal ultrasound average about 195 zł); kliniki.pl averages (lumbar spine 55–150 zł, average 82 zł; pantomogram 70–100 zł in Poznań); the RTG Warszawa price list (110 zł per single projection for most limbs and spine, chest PA 140 zł, pelvis 120 zł, abdomen 130 zł, two-view studies 160–190 zł); and 2025–2026 MRI/CT price lists from Polmed Diagnostyka-linked centres in Brodnica, Płock and Puławy. USD at approximately 3.9 zł = $1 (ECB reference rates, 9 October 2026); exchange rates move.
How NFZ Coverage Works for X-Rays
Who is covered
- Employees on a contract of employment (umowa o pracę) and most mandate contracts
- Self-employed people paying ZUS health contributions
- Registered family members of insured people
- Children, pupils and students up to the statutory age, pensioners, registered unemployed
- EU/EEA/Swiss/UK visitors with EHIC or GHIC (necessary care)
- Others can sign a voluntary NFZ agreement
Who can refer you
- Family doctor (POZ): X-ray, ultrasound and 100+ other tests
- Specialist (AOS) or hospital: CT, MRI and other advanced imaging
- POZ exception: chest CT in the in-depth diagnostics pathway, after a chest X-ray
- NFZ dentist: dental X-rays within the guaranteed dental basket
- Referrals are issued as an e-skierowanie with a 4-digit code
Emergency X-rays
- SOR (hospital emergency department): free, no referral
- Izba przyjęć (admission room) at smaller hospitals
- Nocna i świąteczna opieka (evenings, weekends, holidays) for non-life-threatening problems
- Only tests needed for the emergency are done
- Uninsured patients may be billed afterwards
Where to Get an X-Ray in Poland
🏥 Private medical networks
- LUX MED — nationwide; subscriptions, self-pay and some NFZ sites
- Medicover — nationwide; subscriptions, self-pay, some NFZ contracts
- Enel-Med — Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, Gdańsk and others
- PZU Zdrowie — insurer-owned clinics and partner network
- Carolina Medical Center — Warsaw, orthopaedics and sports medicine
🏥 Diagnostic imaging chains
- Affidea Polska — CT, MRI and X-ray centres, many NFZ-contracted
- Voxel — imaging network headquartered in Kraków
- Helimed — imaging centres in Silesia
- Independent pracownie RTG in most towns, often cheapest for self-pay
🏥 University / public hospitals
- University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw
- University Hospital in Kraków
- University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk
- Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Clinical Hospital, Wrocław
- Heliodor Święcicki Clinical Hospital, Poznań
Regional Price Differences
🏙️ Warsaw
- Highest private prices in Poland
- Dedicated RTG centres: 110–140 zł per projection
- Two-view studies typically 160–190 zł
- Aggregator chest X-ray average about 64 zł
🏙️ Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań, Łódź, Wrocław
- Chest X-ray averages roughly 50–64 zł (kb.pl, April 2026)
- Wrocław among the cheapest at about 50 zł
- Spine X-ray about 75 zł in Łódź
- Pantomogram about 70–100 zł in Poznań
🏘️ Smaller towns
- Chest X-ray commonly 55–60 zł
- Some public emergency providers publish self-pay lists for patients without a referral
- Fewer CT/MRI centres — expect travel or longer waits
Guide by Patient Type
🇵🇱 Polish residents
- Confirm your insurance status in eWUŚ or the IKP patient account
- Ask your POZ doctor for an e-skierowanie — the X-ray is then free
- Use the referral at any NFZ-contracted site, including private chains
- Pay privately (50–180 zł) only to skip the queue
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss / UK visitors
- EHIC (or UK GHIC) gives the same rights as an NFZ-insured patient
- Use public hospitals or NFZ-contracted clinics
- Present EHIC/GHIC and passport
- Planned treatment and private clinics are not covered
✈️ Non-EU visitors and expats
- Self-pay at a private centre is simple and inexpensive
- Emergency care is provided, but uninsured patients can be invoiced
- Residence permits require health insurance; employment brings NFZ cover
- Keep receipts and the radiology report for travel-insurance claims
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Passport or Polish ID card
- PESEL number, if you have one
- e-skierowanie code (for NFZ X-rays)
- EHIC/GHIC if visiting from Europe
- Prior imaging on CD/USB, if relevant
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency (SOR): same visit, after triage
- NFZ plain X-ray: often same day to a few days
- NFZ CT / MRI: weeks to months for non-urgent cases
- Private self-pay: same or next day
- Report (opis): usually 1–3 working days
💡 How to save money
- Use an NFZ referral — the X-ray is free even at many private chains
- Compare cennik pages: smaller centres can cost a third of Warsaw prices
- Check whether your employer's medical package already includes X-rays
- Ask whether one projection is enough before paying for two
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Poland?
With NFZ insurance and a doctor's referral (skierowanie) an X-ray is free. Paying privately, a plain X-ray (RTG) costs roughly 50–180 zł (about $13–46): price aggregator kb.pl puts the average chest X-ray at about 57 zł nationally (April 2026), while Warsaw radiology centres such as RTG Warszawa charge 110–140 zł per projection and 160–180 zł for a two-view study.
Ile kosztuje RTG na NFZ? (Is an X-ray free on the NFZ?)
Yes. For NFZ-insured patients, an X-ray ordered on a referral is free at any facility with an NFZ contract, including many private clinics. There is no co-payment. Emergency X-rays at a hospital emergency department (SOR) or night and holiday care (nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna) are also free for insured patients and do not need a referral.
Can I get an X-ray without a referral (RTG bez skierowania)?
Not on the NFZ: free imaging requires a skierowanie, except in emergencies. Privately, many radiology centres perform X-rays for self-paying patients without a referral or arrange one through their own doctor, but policies differ because the radiation-protection rules require each exposure to be justified. Some public providers also publish price lists for patients without a referral. Call the centre before you go.
Can my family doctor (lekarz POZ) refer me for an X-ray, CT or MRI?
A family doctor can order X-rays and ultrasound on the NFZ as part of more than 100 primary-care tests. CT and MRI generally need a referral from a specialist (AOS) or hospital doctor; the main exception is a chest CT within the primary-care in-depth diagnostics pathway, which requires a prior chest X-ray.
Ile kosztuje RTG klatki piersiowej? (How much is a chest X-ray?)
A private chest X-ray costs about 50–70 zł at many centres outside the largest cities (kb.pl average about 57 zł; Wrocław about 50 zł, Warsaw and Poznań about 64 zł in its April 2026 data) and 140–170 zł at some Warsaw radiology centres for PA or PA plus lateral views. It is free on the NFZ with a referral.
How much does a dental panoramic X-ray (pantomogram) cost in Poland?
A pantomogram typically costs about 70–120 zł (roughly $18–31) at private dental imaging centres; kliniki.pl lists an average of about 93 zł in Poznań, with prices from 70 zł. A single-tooth X-ray costs around 45–50 zł. Adding a cephalometric image raises the price to about 160–165 zł.
How much does a private MRI, CT or ultrasound cost in Poland?
Published self-pay prices are approximately: MRI 500–700 zł per area without contrast, rising to about 1,000–1,600 zł for multi-section spine or contrast studies; CT 500–950 zł; abdominal ultrasound about 175–230 zł (kb.pl national average about 195 zł). All three are free on the NFZ with an appropriate referral, but waits for CT and MRI can be long.
Does EHIC cover an X-ray in Poland for tourists?
Yes, if the X-ray is medically necessary during your stay, for example after an injury. EU/EEA, Swiss and UK (GHIC) cardholders are treated like NFZ-insured patients at facilities with an NFZ contract. Planned treatment is not covered, and private clinics without an NFZ contract will charge you. Visitors without EHIC/GHIC should pay privately and claim from travel insurance.
Do Lux Med, Medicover or Enel-Med subscriptions cover X-rays?
Many employer-sponsored medical packages (abonament medyczny) from LUX MED, Medicover, Enel-Med and PZU Zdrowie include basic X-rays and ultrasound when ordered by the network's doctor; CT and MRI are often limited to higher-tier packages or discounted. Coverage varies by package, so check your list of included services.
How much is NFZ health insurance in 2026?
Employees pay 9% of gross salary with no upper cap. Self-employed people pay 9% of income under the tax scale or 4.9% on the flat (linear) tax, with a minimum of 432.54 zł per month for February 2026 to January 2027 (9% of the 4,806 zł minimum wage). People who are not otherwise insured can join the NFZ voluntarily.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (NFZ) — patient guide to primary care (POZ), referral rules and in-depth diagnostics pathway (chest CT)
- Minister of Health regulation on guaranteed primary-care services (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1427); Gazeta Prawna, "Lekarz POZ może zlecić ponad 100 badań na NFZ" (February 2026)
- pacjent.gov.pl — e-skierowanie, IKP and referral guidance
- kb.pl — 2026 price data for chest X-ray, spine X-ray and abdominal ultrasound (published April 2026)
- kliniki.pl — averages for lumbar spine X-ray and pantomogram prices
- RTG Warszawa — published X-ray price list per projection (rtgwarszawa.pl/en/pricing)
- Polmed Diagnostyka-linked centres — MRI price lists (Brodnica, Płock, Puławy, 2025) and CT price list (Płock, 2026)
- ZUS / infakt.pl / Gazeta Prawna — 2026 health contribution rates and 432.54 zł minimum
Last reviewed: October 2026. Private prices vary by city and centre and change frequently — check the provider's current cennik before booking.