Cancer Treatment Costs in Shanghai: Transparent Pricing Guide 2026

Cost Context

Shanghai's top public hospitals deliver Western-equivalent cancer care at prices typically 50-70% lower than the United States, with shorter wait times. Chinese national insurance negotiation has dramatically cut prices for PD-1 inhibitors, TKIs, and CAR-T in recent years.

Surgery Costs

ProcedurePrice Range (¥)USD Equivalent Lung lobectomy (VATS/minimally invasive)80,000–150,000$11,000–21,000 Robotic thoracic surgery (da Vinci)120,000–220,000$17,000–31,000 Breast mastectomy + reconstruction100,000–200,000$14,000–28,000 Liver resection100,000–180,000$14,000–25,000 Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple)150,000–300,000$21,000–42,000 Colectomy (laparoscopic)80,000–140,000$11,000–20,000 Robot-assisted prostatectomy80,000–130,000$11,000–18,000 Thyroidectomy (standard)30,000–60,000$4,000–8,500 Thyroidectomy (endoscopic scarless)50,000–90,000$7,000–12,700

Systemic Therapy Costs

TreatmentPrice RangeNotes Standard chemotherapy (per cycle)¥5,000–20,000Depends on regimen Chinese PD-1 (camrelizumab/sintilimab/tislelizumab)¥3,000–8,000/cycleAfter national insurance Imported PD-1 (pembrolizumab/nivolumab)¥15,000–20,000/cycle 3rd-gen EGFR TKI (osimertinib)¥15,000–25,000/month Chinese 3rd-gen EGFR TKI (aumolertinib/furmonertinib)¥5,000–10,000/monthComparable efficacy HER2 ADC (T-DXd)¥20,000–40,000/cycle BTK inhibitor (zanubrutinib)¥15,000–25,000/month PARP inhibitor (pamiparib, Chinese)¥8,000–15,000/month CAR-T (domestic product)¥1,000,000–1,200,000 totalRel/ref DLBCL/B-ALL Allogeneic stem cell transplant¥400,000–800,000 total

Radiation Costs

Standard IMRT/VMAT: ¥30,000–80,000 total course

SBRT (early lung/oligometastases): ¥50,000–100,000

Proton therapy: ¥200,000–300,000 total

Carbon ion therapy: ¥250,000–350,000 total

Diagnostic Costs

PET-CT: ¥6,000–8,000

PSMA PET-CT: ¥10,000–15,000

NGS genomic panel (500+ genes): ¥8,000–20,000

Pathology review + IHC: ¥2,000–8,000

MRI with contrast: ¥1,000–3,000

What's NOT Included

Accommodation: ¥12,000–45,000/month (serviced apartment)

Medical interpreter: ¥800–2,500/day

Meals and local transport: ¥100–300/day

Visa extensions and flights

MedBridge service fee: transparent package pricing based on case complexity

Important Notes

Prices above are cash/self-pay estimates at public tertiary hospitals; international/VIP clinics cost 2-3x more.

Chinese national insurance is not available to foreign patients, but cash prices are already far below Western list prices.

Final costs depend on individual clinical situation, complications, and length of stay.

MedBridge provides itemized written estimates BEFORE treatment begins, with no hidden fees.

Medical fees are paid directly to the hospital; MedBridge service fees are separate and transparent.