Knee and hip replacement
in China
A knee replacement at a large Chinese public hospital cost Chinese patients about CNY 34,500 (roughly US$4,800) in total in 2022–2023, after national bulk purchasing cut implant prices by around 80%. International departments charge more than this, so the real price for you is the hospital’s written quote. Patients consider China mainly to avoid long waits and high private prices at home. Whether surgery is right for you is decided by the hospital’s surgeons after reviewing your records.
What it costs: China compared with other countries
Prices below come from different sources, years and definitions, so use them to compare orders of magnitude, not to budget. Always compare written all-in quotes.
| Where | Knee replacement | Hip replacement | What the figure means |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (public hospital, Chinese patients) | ≈ CNY 34,500 (≈ US$4,800) | Not published | Average total hospital bill, one Guangzhou tertiary hospital, 2022–20231. International departments charge more. |
| United States | US$35,000 | US$40,364 | Typical price, 20212. Hospital-posted cash prices often cover only part of the bill3. |
| UK (private, self-pay) | £13,120–£20,120 | — | Spire and Nuffield published guide prices, 2026; what is included differs by group4. |
| South Korea | US$17,500 | US$21,000 | Typical medical travel prices, 20212. |
| Thailand | US$14,000 | US$17,000 | |
| Turkey | US$10,400 | US$13,900 | |
| India | US$6,600 | US$7,200 |
Why China’s prices dropped. In 2021 China’s National Healthcare Security Administration bought artificial joints in bulk for public hospitals. The average knee implant price fell from about CNY 32,000 to CNY 5,000, and the average hip implant from about CNY 35,000 to CNY 7,0005. In the Guangzhou study, the average total bill for a knee replacement fell from about CNY 65,300 to CNY 34,5001.
Waiting times at home
- England (NHS): in August 2026 the median wait on the trauma and orthopaedics list was 14.5 weeks at NHS trusts, and 1 in 12 patients had waited more than 42.8 weeks. This covers the whole orthopaedic list, not only joint replacement4.
- Canada: 65% of hip and knee replacements were done within the 26-week benchmark in 20256.
In China, timing depends on the hospital and your case. We give you the hospital’s own proposed dates in writing after it reviews your records.
Is surgery in China right for you?
It can make sense if a specialist has already recommended joint replacement, you face a long wait or a high private price, and you can stay in China through the hospital stay and early recovery.
It is not suitable if you have an active infection, you have been told not to fly, or you need urgent care. The hospital’s surgeons decide whether they can operate.
How it works with YETO
- Free consultation. Tell us which joint, your diagnosis, your preferred city and timing.
- Send your records: recent X-rays or MRI, specialist letter, other conditions and medicines.
- Hospital review. An orthopaedic team reviews your case and gives a written plan, price and dates. You pay us nothing until this point.
- Travel arranged: admission date, invitation letter for your visa, hotel and airport pickup.
- Surgery and stay, with interpretation and on-site support.
- Going home: discharge summary and records in English, and help with follow-up questions to the hospital.
Our coordination fee is US$2,000–5,000 per case, paid 50/30/20 after hospital confirmation. Hospital charges are paid to the hospital directly. See the step-by-step guide for details and refunds.
Questions to ask any hospital
- How many knee or hip replacements does this team do each year?
- Which implant brand and model will be used?
- What exactly does the quote include: implant, surgeon, anaesthesia, nights in hospital, physiotherapy, medicines?
- How many nights in hospital, and when can I fly?
- Who answers my questions after I get home?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a knee replacement cost in China?
At a large public hospital in Guangzhou, the average total hospital bill for a knee replacement fell to about CNY 34,500 (roughly US$4,800) after China cut implant prices through national bulk purchasing, according to a 2025 study of 2021–2023 patients. That figure is for Chinese patients. International departments set their own prices and usually charge more, so we always get a written quote from the hospital for your case before you decide.
Why have joint replacements become cheaper in China?
In 2021 China’s National Healthcare Security Administration bought artificial joints in bulk for public hospitals. The average knee implant price fell from about CNY 32,000 to CNY 5,000 and the average hip implant from about CNY 35,000 to CNY 7,000.
What is the cheapest country for a knee replacement?
On published price lists, India, China and Mexico are among the lowest, and the US is the highest. A low headline price can leave out the implant, the surgeon’s fee, physiotherapy or the extra nights you need before flying, so compare written all-in quotes, not advertised prices.
Which country is best for a knee or hip replacement?
There is no single best country. Compare the hospital’s volume of joint replacements, the implant you would receive, the total written price, how soon surgery can happen, language support, and who will handle follow-up when you are home.
How long would I wait for surgery in China?
It depends on the hospital and your case. We give you the hospital’s own proposed timing in writing after it has reviewed your records.
How long do I need to stay in China?
Your surgeon decides when you are fit to fly, based on your recovery. Plan for the hospital stay plus some days nearby afterwards; we confirm the expected length with the hospital before you book.
What records should I send?
Recent X-rays or MRI of the joint, your diagnosis or specialist letter, your other medical conditions and a list of the medicines you take. English or Chinese is fine.
Sources
- Hospitalization costs of TKA inpatients before and after National Volume-based Procurement in Guangdong, Frontiers in Public Health, published January 2025 (patients May 2021–Dec 2023).
- MedicalTourism.com price comparison, prices quoted from 2021.
- MedicalPriceCheck analysis of 98 US hospitals’ posted cash prices, May 2026.
- TreatCompare, compiling Spire and Nuffield guide prices and NHS England RTT data for August 2026 (published October 2026).
- Yicai Global, 15 September 2021, on the national bulk-buying results.
- Canadian Institute for Health Information, joint replacement wait times, 2025.
Last updated: 2 November 2026. Exchange rate used: about CNY 7.2 per US$.