Urgent Care vs ER: Austin Pricing Breakdown (Save Hundreds)

Urgent Care: $79–$225. ER: $1,500–$5,000+.

T

hat's the difference. For the same sore throat, sprained ankle, or minor laceration, you could pay $79 at an H-E-B RediClinic or $2,000+ in an Austin emergency room.

K

nowing when to choose urgent care over the ER can save you hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars. Last updated: February 2026

---

Austin Urgent Care Prices (Cash-Pay)

H

ere's what Austin's urgent care facilities actually charge for walk-in visits:

Budget-Friendly Options ($79–$125)

RediClinic (H-E-B) — $79

• Minor illness visit: $79
• Strep test + visit: $89
• Flu shot: $35
• Inside H-E-B stores, multiple Austin locations
• NP/PA staffed, great for simple issues

MinuteClinic (CVS) — $99

• Minor illness visit: $99
• Flu shot: $40
• Inside CVS pharmacies across Austin
• Walk-in, no appointment needed

AFC Urgent Care — $125

• Self-pay visit: $125
• Flu test: $25
• Drug screen: $50
• North and South Austin locations

Austin Regional Clinic (ARC) Urgent Care — $125

• Uninsured visit: $125
• X-ray: $75
• Multiple locations across Austin metro

Mid-Range Full-Service ($150–$225)

CityDoc Urgent Care — $150

• Urgent care visit: $150
• X-ray + reading: $100
• IV hydration: $199
• Stitches: $250
• South Congress location, walk-ins welcome

Texas MedClinic — $225 (all-inclusive)

• Standard visit: $225 (includes labs, X-ray, sutures, EKG)
• After-hours fee: +$110
• COVID test: $50
• 24/7 at select locations
• Best value for complex urgent care — base price includes everything

---

What Does an ER Visit Cost in Austin?

E

mergency room visits are dramatically more expensive:

• Average ER visit (no admission): $1,500–$3,000
• ER visit with imaging: $2,500–$5,000
• ER visit with admission: $5,000–$20,000+
• ER "facility fee" alone: $500–$1,500 (before any treatment)

E

ven for minor issues, the ER charges a facility fee just for walking through the door. Add triage, a doctor evaluation, and any tests, and you're looking at a four-figure bill minimum.

---

Urgent Care vs. ER: When to Go Where

✅ Go to Urgent Care For:

• Sore throat, cough, cold, flu — visit cost: $79–$125
• Ear infections, pink eye — treatment: $75–$200
• Minor sprains and strains — treatment: $100–$250
• Small cuts needing stitches — laceration repair: $200–$600
• UTI symptoms — treatment: $75–$200
• Mild allergic reactions — treatment: $125–$350
• Insect bites — treatment: $75–$200
• Minor burns
• Rashes

🚨 Go to the ER For:

• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Signs of stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty)
• Severe bleeding that won't stop
• Head injuries with loss of consciousness
• Broken bones with visible deformity
• High fever in infants
• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
• Poisoning or overdose
• Seizures

🤔 The Gray Area

Some situations could go either way. Here's a cost-conscious guide:

Situation	Urgent Care OK?	Estimated Cost (UC vs ER)
Possible broken finger	✅ Yes (X-ray available)	$125–$225 vs $1,500+
Deep cut (needs stitches)	✅ Yes	$200–$600 vs $2,000+
Bad stomach pain	⚠️ If manageable	$125–$350 vs $2,500+
High fever (adult)	✅ Yes	$79–$150 vs $1,500+
Dehydration	✅ Yes (IV available)	$150–$500 vs $2,000+
Animal bite	✅ Usually	$125–$250 vs $1,500+

---

Specific Urgent Care Procedure Prices in Austin

B

eyond the basic visit, here's what specific treatments cost at urgent care (cash-pay):

Procedure	Cash-Pay Range	Link
Abdominal Pain Evaluation	$125–$350	Details →
Fracture Treatment (Closed)	$300–$1,000	Details →
IV Hydration	$150–$500	Details →
Laceration Repair (small)	$200–$600	Details →
Laceration Repair (medium)	$300–$800	Details →
Respiratory Infection Visit	$100–$250	Details →
UTI Treatment	$75–$200	Details →
Ear Infection Treatment	$75–$200	Details →
Sprain Treatment	$100–$250	Details →
Drug Screen	$25–$100	Details →

All prices are for the Austin area, cash-pay. ER versions of these same treatments typically cost 5–10x more.

---

The Texas MedClinic Hack

I

f you think you might need labs, X-rays, or stitches, Texas MedClinic offers the best value in Austin: $225 flat rate includes:

• Doctor evaluation
• Lab tests
• X-rays
• Stitches/sutures
• EKG

A

t most urgent cares, those add-ons are extra. At an ER, that same bundle would easily cost $3,000–$5,000. Texas MedClinic is also open 24/7 at select locations, making it a true ER alternative for non-life-threatening emergencies.

---

Freestanding ERs: The Expensive Trap

A

ustin has several freestanding emergency rooms (they look like urgent care but charge ER prices). Be careful. These facilities:

• Charge ER-level facility fees ($500–$1,500)
• Are NOT urgent care centers
• Often have "ER" or "Emergency" in their name
• Cost 5–10x more than a true urgent care

Always verify you're going to an urgent care center, not a freestanding ER. If it says "Emergency" anywhere, expect ER pricing.

---

Compare Urgent Care Prices on MarketCare

D

on't guess. Compare real cash-pay urgent care prices across Austin providers: Browse Urgent+Care providers → | View all urgent care procedures → Bottom line: For non-life-threatening issues, urgent care saves you $1,000–$4,000+ compared to the ER. Bookmark this page and share it with someone who needs it.