When it comes to the cost of delivering a baby, a new study finds prices vary wildly from region to region.
The study, from the San Francisco-based Castlight Health, compares the cost of a routine vaginal and C-section delivery in the nation's 30 largest metropolitan areas.
In San Diego, the cost of a routine vaginal delivery ranges from a low of $3,243 to a high of $13,779. For routine C-sections, the cost ranges from $11,216 to $22,736.
Kristin Torres Mowat, Castlight Health's senior vice president of plan development and data operations, said San Diego's price variations are not unique.
“And it’s a phenomenon across the country, and it’s indicative of the inefficient and poorly functioning market for healthcare services," she explained.
The report finds San Diego is the nation's 13th most expensive city for a routine baby delivery, where the average cost is $9,709. In contrast, Sacramento is the country's most expensive city to deliver a baby, with an average cost of $15,420.
