Best Hospitals in Salt Lake City (2026)
Salt Lake City's hospital market is dominated by Intermountain Health — widely recognized as one of America's best-run healthcare systems. With two 5-star hospitals and a deep bench of 4-star facil...
Salt Lake City's hospital market is dominated by Intermountain Health — widely recognized as one of America's best-run healthcare systems. With two 5-star hospitals and a deep bench of 4-star facilities, the Wasatch Front offers exceptionally high-quality care. University of Utah Health adds academic medicine, and HCA provides a for-profit alternative.
This guide ranks Salt Lake City-area hospitals by CMS star ratings, cost-to-charge ratios, and price transparency — helping you find the right combination of quality and value.
Top 5 Hospitals in Salt Lake City
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Cost-to-Charge | Priced Procedures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermountain Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.24 | 231 |
| Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.24 | 230 |
| St. Mark's Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.10 | 221 |
| Intermountain Alta View Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.28 | 230 |
| Intermountain LDS Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.28 | 230 |
Understanding the Rankings
CMS Star Ratings
Salt Lake City boasts two 5-star hospitals: Intermountain Medical Center (Murray) and Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital (Provo). The 4-star tier includes St. Mark's Hospital, Intermountain Alta View Hospital (Sandy), and Intermountain LDS Hospital (Salt Lake City). Holy Cross Hospital earns 2 stars.
Cost-to-Charge Ratio
Intermountain Health facilities show moderate markups. Intermountain Medical Center and Utah Valley both sit at 0.24 (about 4x markup). Alta View and LDS Hospital are at 0.28 (about 4x). These ratios reflect Intermountain's nonprofit mission and reputation for efficient operations. St. Mark's Hospital at 0.10 (about 10x markup) is a for-profit outlier with significantly higher markups despite good quality.
Price Transparency
Intermountain Health facilities show outstanding transparency. Intermountain Medical Center leads with 231 priced procedures. Utah Valley, Alta View, and LDS Hospital each publish 230 procedures. St. Mark's publishes 221. This is among the best transparency in any U.S. metro.
Best Value Hospitals in Salt Lake City
- Best overall: Intermountain Medical Center — 5-star, 0.24 ratio, 231 priced procedures, the flagship
- Best south valley: Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital — 5-star with identical quality to IMC, serving Provo/Orem
- Best community: Intermountain LDS Hospital — 4-star, 0.28 ratio, 230 procedures, located in Salt Lake City proper
- Best Sandy option: Intermountain Alta View Hospital — 4-star, 0.28 ratio, 230 priced procedures
- Caution: St. Mark's Hospital — 4-star quality but 0.10 ratio means 10x markups, significantly more expensive
Price Comparison: Common Procedures in Salt Lake City
- Lab work (CBC, metabolic panel): $12–$180 depending on facility
- CT scans: $250–$2,800 in the Wasatch Front
- MRI: $350–$3,200+ — freestanding imaging centers offer significant savings
- ER visits: Facility fees from $500 at community hospitals to $1,800+ at academic centers
Compare real prices using Taven's price comparison tool.
Salt Lake City Hospital System Overview
- Intermountain Health — One of America's most admired healthcare systems. Operates 33+ hospitals across Utah and surrounding states. Intermountain Medical Center (5-star, Murray) is the flagship. Utah Valley Hospital (5-star, Provo), LDS Hospital (4-star, SLC), and Alta View (4-star, Sandy) round out the metro presence. Known for efficient operations, low costs, and clinical quality. Intermountain's integrated model (hospitals + insurance through SelectHealth) enables cost control.
- University of Utah Health — The state's only academic medical center and Level I trauma center. Huntsman Cancer Institute is nationally ranked. Strong in research, transplants, and complex specialty care. Essential for cases that require academic medicine capabilities.
- St. Mark's Hospital — HCA-owned for-profit hospital. 4-star quality but 0.10 cost-to-charge ratio (10x markup) — significantly more expensive than Intermountain alternatives. Publishes 221 priced procedures.
- Holy Cross Hospital — Smaller for-profit facility. 2-star rating. Limited data availability.
Salt Lake City's Healthcare Advantage
Salt Lake City benefits enormously from Intermountain Health's dominance. Unlike most markets where one dominant system means higher prices, Intermountain's nonprofit mission and operational efficiency produce some of the best value in American healthcare. Cost-to-charge ratios of 0.24–0.28 (4x markup) are significantly better than national averages. The system's transparency is also exceptional — 230+ priced procedures per facility. Utah's young, healthy population and lower cost of living contribute to more reasonable healthcare costs overall.
Tips for Choosing a Hospital in Salt Lake City
- Intermountain is the clear choice for most needs. Two 5-star hospitals and three 4-star options with low markups and excellent transparency.
- U of U Health for complex cases. Academic medicine, Level I trauma, and Huntsman Cancer Institute for specialty care.
- Avoid St. Mark's for price-sensitive care. Despite 4-star quality, its 10x markups are dramatically worse than Intermountain's 4x.
- Compare prices before scheduled procedures. Use Taven's comparison tool with real Salt Lake data.
- Utah has moderate patient protections. The federal No Surprises Act applies. Utah law provides some additional protections for emergency care.
- Ask about charity care — Intermountain has robust financial assistance programs for qualifying patients.
- Get a Good Faith Estimate before any planned procedure.
- Review your bill. Use our free bill review tool to catch errors and overcharges.
How We Rank Hospitals
Our rankings use CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, cost-to-charge ratios from CMS cost reports, and price transparency compliance data. We don't accept advertising from hospitals. Learn more about our methodology.