By Dr. José Ramón Grajales Almeida, adult psychiatrist · Published October 27, 2026 · Versión en español
Quick answer: Without insurance, list prices for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the United States are typically two to six times higher than at our clinic in Mexico City. With insurance, your U.S. out-of-pocket cost may be lower. This guide compares the numbers with their sources and covers what else to weigh before traveling for treatment: protocol, travel, lodging and follow-up care.
NeuroWave is an adult psychiatry and TMS clinic in Mexico City and publishes this article. We have a commercial interest in your inquiry, so we cite the source of every figure and say when treatment at home may be the better choice.
Cost comparison
| NeuroWave (Mexico City) | U.S. clinics (list price, no insurance) | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial psychiatric evaluation | US$97 (MX$1,800) | US$200–400 |
| Per session | From US$76 (MX$1,400) | About US$200–400 |
| Full course of 30–36 sessions | US$2,270–2,720 (MX$42,000–50,400) | US$6,000–15,000 |
| Accelerated protocol | US$2,160 (MX$40,000), 25 sessions in 5 days | US$30,000–36,000 (SAINT, MRI-guided neuronavigation) |
Reference exchange rate: about 18.5 Mexican pesos per U.S. dollar (October 2026); use the rate on the day you travel. U.S. figures are ranges from 2026 price guides and vary by city and clinic; they are not quotes. Our prices are those of October 2026 and may change.
With insurance, the U.S. may cost less
In the U.S., TMS for depression is often covered with prior authorization. A 2026 cost guide estimates out-of-pocket spending of about US$800 to 1,200 with a met deductible and 20% coinsurance, and up to about US$6,000 with a high deductible. Medicare, under the Palmetto GBA local coverage determination, covers TMS for severe treatment-resistant major depression with defined criteria: failure of two antidepressants from different classes, a prior psychotherapy trial and an order from a psychiatrist, for up to 20 visits over 4 weeks. If your plan covers TMS, traveling will usually not save you money. Traveling makes the most sense if you have no coverage, were denied authorization, or have a high deductible. Ask your insurer whether it reimburses care received outside the U.S.; many plans do not.
What the price does not tell you
- The protocols are not the same. The US$30,000–36,000 accelerated protocol cited in the U.S. (SAINT) uses MRI-guided neuronavigation. Ours is an accelerated Theta Burst protocol without that component. We do not claim they are equivalent.
- No guarantees. Response to TMS varies from person to person, and no price ensures a result.
- Travel and lodging. A standard course means weeks of near-daily sessions. The accelerated protocol compresses treatment into 5 days, which makes travel easier, but add flights, lodging and time away from home.
- Follow-up. Ask how follow-up would be coordinated with your psychiatrist at home, and what to do if a crisis happens far from them.
- Screening first. TMS is not for everyone. We rule out metal implants in or near the head, uncontrolled epilepsy and risk of mania before starting.
Equipment and how to verify it
We use a MagVenture MagPro R30. The MagPro magnetic stimulator appears in Mexico’s COFEPRIS medical device registry under registration 0500E2018 SSA (class II, current, renewal valid through 02/08/2029). The registered indication is treatment of major depressive disorder and anxiety. TMS for major depression has been cleared by the U.S. FDA since 2008. We detail what you can verify about our clinic in this article (in Spanish).
What our process looks like
- Psychiatric evaluation: history, diagnosis, prior treatments and contraindications.
- Motor threshold measurement to set the intensity for your brain.
- Theta Burst (about 3 minutes per session) as our main protocol; conventional TMS (about 37 minutes) and the 25-session accelerated protocol are also available.
- You are awake and seated, with no anesthesia, and can go back to your day immediately.
If you are interested
Message us on WhatsApp with your diagnosis, your prior treatments and your possible travel dates, and we will explain the options and the real costs for your case. Dr. Grajales sees patients in English and in Spanish. We see adults 18 and older only, with a psychiatric evaluation before starting. Address: Montes Urales 749, Suite 5, Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico City 11000. Hours: Monday to Thursday 12:00–20:00, Saturday 10:00–14:00 (Mexico City time).
Frequently asked questions
Do you see patients in English?
Yes. Dr. Grajales sees patients in English and in Spanish, so evaluations and treatment can be done entirely in English.
How much does TMS therapy cost in Mexico compared with the United States?
At NeuroWave in Mexico City, a full course of 30 to 36 sessions costs about US$2,270 to 2,720 (MX$42,000 to 50,400) at an exchange rate of about 18.5 pesos per dollar. U.S. cash prices for a standard course are typically US$6,000 to 15,000 according to 2026 price guides.
Is TMS cheaper in the U.S. if I have insurance?
It can be. With prior authorization, U.S. insurance often covers TMS for depression, and one 2026 guide estimates out-of-pocket costs of about US$800 to 1,200 with a met deductible. If your plan covers it, traveling usually does not save money.
Is the accelerated protocol in Mexico the same as SAINT?
No. The SAINT protocol priced at US$30,000 to 36,000 in the U.S. uses MRI-guided neuronavigation. NeuroWave offers an accelerated Theta Burst protocol of 25 sessions in 5 days without that component, and we do not claim the two are equivalent.
What equipment does NeuroWave use and is it registered?
NeuroWave uses a MagVenture MagPro R30. The MagPro magnetic stimulator appears in Mexico’s COFEPRIS medical device registry under registration 0500E2018 SSA, class II, current.
Who can receive TMS at NeuroWave?
Adults aged 18 and older after a psychiatric evaluation. People with metal implants in or near the head, uncontrolled epilepsy or risk of mania need special evaluation or cannot receive TMS.
Sources
- TherapyCostGuide (2026). TMS cost guide: US$200–400 per session and US$6,000–12,000 per 30–36 session course.
- Cognitive FX (updated October 21, 2026). TMS therapy cost 2026: US$6,000–15,000 without insurance, SAINT US$30,000–36,000 and out-of-pocket estimates with insurance.
- Palmetto GBA / CMS. Local Coverage Determination L34869: Medicare coverage criteria for TMS.
- COFEPRIS. Medical Device Registry viewer, registration 0500E2018 SSA (consulted October 27, 2026).
About the author
Dr. José Ramón Grajales Almeida is a physician (MD, University of Guanajuato) and a psychiatrist trained at UNAM, with residency at the Hospital Psiquiátrico Fray Bernardino Álvarez in Mexico City. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and public policy (ITESM). He trained in TMS through a visiting fellowship at Duke University (2015) and the Clinical TMS Certification Course at Maastricht University (2021), and holds diplomas in clinical neurophysiology (Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 2022) and cognitive behavioral therapy (IMPCC, 2008). His Mexican professional license numbers (cédulas) are 5089135 (physician), 6880800 (psychiatry specialty) and 9394752 (master’s), which can be checked in the SEP national professional registry. He sees adults in English and Spanish in Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico City, with medication and TMS.
This article is informational and does not replace a medical consultation. Do not change or stop a medication without talking to your doctor. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the U.S. (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room. In Mexico, call the Línea de la Vida at 800 911 2000.