Most cost guides for surgery abroad are written in US dollars and leave everyone else to do the maths. This one does the conversion for you. Below, the typical all-in price of the most-travelled-for procedures is shown in US dollars, Canadian dollars and British pounds, side by side with what the same procedure costs privately at home in each of those countries, so you can see the real gap in the currency you actually spend.
Every figure is an all-in estimate (surgeon, facility and anesthesia for an uncomplicated case). Treat them as order-of-magnitude, not quotes. The one cost that never appears on a clinic invoice, the cost of treating a complication, has its own section below, because it is the cost that most often erases the saving.
The Numbers at a Glance
Conversions use approximate mid-market rates as of June 2026 (1 USD ≈ 1.39 CAD ≈ 0.74 GBP) and are rounded. Exchange rates move, so treat converted figures as indicative.
Typical Cost Abroad, in Your Currency
This is the all-in price at a reputable clinic in a leading destination (for each procedure, a strong-value country such as Turkey, Mexico or India), expressed in all three currencies.
| Procedure | USD | CAD | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single dental implant | $500–$1,500 | C$700–C$2,100 | £370–£1,100 |
| All-on-4 (per arch) | $4,000–$9,000 | C$5,600–C$12,500 | £3,000–£6,700 |
| Veneer (per tooth) | $200–$450 | C$280–C$630 | £150–£330 |
| Hair transplant (full FUE) | $1,500–$4,000 | C$2,100–C$5,600 | £1,100–£3,000 |
| Rhinoplasty | $2,000–$5,000 | C$2,800–C$7,000 | £1,500–£3,700 |
| Breast augmentation | $3,000–$6,000 | C$4,200–C$8,300 | £2,200–£4,400 |
| Tummy tuck | $3,000–$5,500 | C$4,200–C$7,600 | £2,200–£4,100 |
| BBL (fat grafting) | $2,500–$5,500 | C$3,500–C$7,600 | £1,900–£4,100 |
| Gastric sleeve | $4,000–$8,000 | C$5,600–C$11,000 | £3,000–£5,900 |
| Hip replacement | $7,000–$14,000 | C$9,700–C$19,500 | £5,200–£10,400 |
| Knee replacement | $6,000–$13,000 | C$8,300–C$18,000 | £4,400–£9,600 |
| LASIK (both eyes) | $800–$2,500 | C$1,100–C$3,500 | £600–£1,900 |
| IVF (one cycle) | $3,000–$7,000 | C$4,200–C$9,700 | £2,200–£5,200 |
For a fuller country-by-country breakdown in US dollars (Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, India and Colombia compared per procedure), see our medical tourism cost guide.
For Comparison: Private Prices at Home
Here is what the same procedures typically cost privately in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, each in its own currency. Put this table next to the one above and the gap, and where it is largest, becomes obvious.
| Procedure | US private (USD) | Canada private (CAD) | UK private (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single dental implant | $3,000–$5,000 | C$3,000–C$6,000 | £1,400–£3,500 |
| Hair transplant (full FUE) | $8,000–$15,000 | C$7,000–C$15,000 | £3,000–£12,000 |
| Rhinoplasty | $8,000–$15,000 | C$8,000–C$14,000 | £7,000–£12,000 |
| Breast augmentation | $7,000–$12,000 | C$7,500–C$15,000 | £4,500–£8,000 |
| Gastric sleeve | $15,000–$25,000 | C$18,000–C$20,000 | £7,000–£11,000 |
| LASIK (both eyes) | $4,000–$6,000 | C$4,000–C$6,000 | £3,000–£7,000 |
| IVF (one cycle) | $15,000–$25,000 | C$10,000–C$20,000 | £5,000–£8,000 |
Home figures are typical private-pay ranges and exclude any public-system or insured route. Joint replacement is left out of this table because in Canada and the UK it is usually a public-system procedure (the real cost there is the wait, not a private price), with private US pricing of roughly $30,000–$50,000 as the Western benchmark.
Where the Saving Is Biggest, by Country
The headline "40 to 90 percent" is real, but the gap depends on where you start from:
- United States. Americans see the largest savings across the board, because US private pricing is the highest in the world. A gastric sleeve, an IVF cycle or full-mouth dental work abroad can cost a small fraction of the US figure.
- Canada. Canadians save heavily on anything provincial plans do not cover at all, dental, cosmetic, bariatric, and travel as much to skip long public-system waits as to save money. See the best countries for Canadians and dental work abroad for Canadians.
- United Kingdom. UK patients save dramatically on dental implants and hair transplants, where home prices are high, but the gap is smaller on procedures the UK private market already prices competitively, such as gastric sleeve and IVF. For Britons the driver is often the NHS wait rather than price alone. See the best countries for Britons.
The clearest example: a single dental implant runs about £1,400–£3,500 privately in the UK and roughly £370–£1,100 abroad. For an American the same implant is $3,000–$5,000 at home versus $500–$1,500 abroad. The percentage is similar; the absolute saving scales with how expensive your home market is.
Where Each Procedure Is Cheapest
The "typical abroad" figures above use a strong-value destination for each procedure. These are the countries that consistently lead on price and volume:
| Procedure | Best-value destinations |
|---|---|
| Dental implants & full-mouth work | Turkey, Hungary, Mexico |
| Veneers & crowns | Turkey, India, Mexico |
| Hair transplant | Turkey, then India |
| Cosmetic surgery | Turkey, Mexico, Colombia |
| Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery | Mexico, Turkey, India |
| Hip & knee replacement | India, then Mexico, Thailand |
| LASIK | India, Turkey, Mexico |
| IVF / fertility | India, Turkey; Spain & Northern Cyprus for European patients |
Cheapest is not the same as best. Compare price against complication rates and facility standards, and use our framework for choosing a destination.
What the Sticker Price Does Not Include
Every figure on this page is the procedure line only. The real budget has four more, and the last is the one patients underestimate most:
- Travel: round-trip flights, often for a companion as well.
- Accommodation: a week or more near the clinic, longer if recovery requires it.
- Aftercare and consumables: medications, compression garments, dressings, follow-up imaging.
- Treating a complication: the cost with no fixed price and no obvious payer.
If a complication develops, the clinic price you paid does not cover treating it elsewhere, standard travel insurance excludes elective-procedure complications, and your home health plan generally will not pay for follow-up of a procedure performed abroad. A revision at home can cost more than the entire original trip. Our guide to the hidden costs of surgery abroad lists every line in full.
The math that matters: complication coverage is priced by the coverage amount you choose, commonly a few hundred dollars (or the equivalent in pounds or Canadian dollars) for entry-tier limits, versus a complication bill that can run into five figures. Get a personalized quote for your exact price.
Get Your Personalized Quote Ask AvaWhy Prices Vary So Much Between Countries
The same procedure can cost three times more in one destination than another. The drivers are consistent:
- Local labor and facility costs. Surgeon, nursing and hospital overhead are far lower in India and Mexico than in the US, Canada or Western Europe, which is most of the price difference.
- Volume and specialization. Turkey's hair-transplant and dental clinics and Mexico's bariatric market run at enormous volume, which pushes prices down.
- Currency and import costs. Implants, lenses and devices are often imported and priced in hard currency, so hardware costs converge between countries more than labor does.
- Tier of facility. A premium JCI-accredited hospital charges more than a standalone clinic, and is often worth it. The cheapest quote is frequently the highest-risk one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does surgery abroad cost in pounds?
In British pounds, typical all-in prices abroad in 2026 are roughly: a single dental implant from about £370 to £1,100, a full FUE hair transplant about £1,100 to £3,000, rhinoplasty about £1,500 to £3,700, breast augmentation about £2,200 to £4,400, a gastric sleeve about £3,000 to £5,900, LASIK for both eyes about £600 to £1,900, and one IVF cycle about £2,200 to £5,200. These are surgeon, facility and anesthesia estimates and exclude flights, accommodation and any complication.
How much does surgery abroad cost in Canadian dollars?
In Canadian dollars, typical all-in prices abroad in 2026 are roughly: a single dental implant about C$700 to C$2,100, a full FUE hair transplant about C$2,100 to C$5,600, rhinoplasty about C$2,800 to C$7,000, breast augmentation about C$4,200 to C$8,300, a gastric sleeve about C$5,600 to C$11,000, a knee replacement about C$8,300 to C$18,000, LASIK for both eyes about C$1,100 to C$3,500, and one IVF cycle about C$4,200 to C$9,700. Figures are estimates that exclude travel and complication costs.
Which country is cheapest for medical tourism?
India is generally lowest for major surgery such as cardiac, orthopedic and oncology. Turkey is usually cheapest for hair transplants, dental work and many cosmetic procedures, and Mexico is often cheapest in total cost for North American patients once short flights are factored in. The lowest sticker price is not always the lowest total cost once flights, accommodation, aftercare and complication risk are added.
How much do you save with medical tourism compared to home?
Reported savings run 40 to 90 percent versus private prices at home, but the gap depends on your country. Americans and Canadians tend to save the most because home private prices are high; UK patients still save heavily on dental work and hair transplants, but the gap is smaller on procedures the UK private market already prices competitively, such as gastric sleeve and IVF. A single uninsured complication can erase the saving entirely.
Are these prices all-inclusive?
No. The figures are all-in estimates for the surgeon, facility and anesthesia of an uncomplicated case. They exclude flights, accommodation, local transport, extended recovery stays, and the cost of treating a complication, which neither the clinic price nor standard travel insurance nor your home health plan typically pays. That gap is what medical travel complication coverage is built for.
Sources and methodology notes
- Destination (abroad) pricing and savings: Patients Beyond Borders and Medical Tourism Association cost reporting, harmonized with our own country-by-country cost guide.
- US private baselines: The Aesthetic Society average cosmetic surgery costs, alongside Healthcare Bluebook and FAIR Health.
- Canada and UK private baselines: harmonized from published 2026 private clinic and hospital price lists in each market (dental, cosmetic, bariatric, ophthalmology and fertility providers).
- Currency conversion: approximate mid-market rates as of June 2026 (1 USD ≈ 1.39 CAD ≈ 0.74 GBP), rounded.
Figures are estimates, not quotes, and are current as of Q2 2026. Prices vary by surgeon, facility, city and case complexity, and exchange rates fluctuate. Updated periodically.
Citing this page? Please link to https://aviaprotect.com/medical-tourism-cost-comparison. Journalists, researchers and patients are welcome to use these figures with attribution.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance, medical, or financial advice. Prices are estimates that vary by provider and over time, and currency conversions are approximate. Coverage terms of medical travel complication insurance are subject to the policy certificate issued by the underwriter. Avia provides insurance brokerage services only.
Related reading: Medical Tourism Cost Guide (USD by country) · Best Countries for Surgery Abroad · Surgery Wait Times in Canada · NHS Waiting Times for Surgery · The Hidden Costs of Surgery Abroad · How Much Does Coverage Cost? · Is Medical Tourism Worth It?