Prices: Price on request, get quotes from clinics. We haven’t found a verifiable, dated public price source, so we don’t quote a figure.
Short answer: Hip replacement is major surgery followed by months of rehabilitation. healthdirect says most people return to light activities after around 6 weeks and most normal activities after about 3 months, and some take up to 12 months to feel the full benefit (healthdirect (opens official site)). Having surgery overseas splits that recovery between two countries. Smartraveller warns that fixing a procedure that goes wrong can cost more (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Risks and limitations to understand first
From healthdirect (opens official site):
- infection
- blood clots (deep vein thrombosis)
- hip dislocation, especially in the first few months
- one leg feeling shorter than the other
- nerve and blood vessel injury, swelling, stiffness and ongoing pain
Also:
- A replacement hip can wear out or dislocate years later and need more surgery (NHS (opens official site))
- RACS lists counterfeit implants, poor documentation and the cost of evacuation among the risks of surgery overseas (RACS (opens official site))
- Additional treatment back in Australia may not be covered by Medicare, the AMA warns (Better Health Channel (opens official site))
- NICE treats major surgery within the previous 4 weeks as a high-risk factor for travel-related clots (NICE CKS (opens official site))
See hip replacement overseas for the full risks guide.
What affects the quote
- Implant make, model and batch documentation (RACS (opens official site))
- Surgeon, anaesthetic, theatre and hospital stay (often several days)
- Imaging and pre-operative assessment
- Physiotherapy while overseas and what is excluded after discharge
- Emergency care or a longer stay if complications occur
Ask for a written, itemised quote in English, including implant details.
Medicare and insurance
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas (Department of Health (opens official site)). In Australia, hip replacement is usually treated as medically necessary; compare the out-of-pocket cost here with the full overseas cost.
- Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
See health insurance gaps, travel insurance for surgery, medical tourism insurance and Medicare overseas.
Add these to any quote
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Flights | Return travel; ask when you are cleared to fly. Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Accommodation | Discharge plus recovery before the flight. Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Physiotherapy in Australia | Aftercare in Australia |
| A buffer for problems | Revision surgery in Australia and complications overseas |
| Time off work | Your own estimate; see flying after surgery and DVT risk |
Country comparisons sometimes appear under hip replacement by country (we still only publish verified prices: Price on request, get quotes from clinics). Destinations: Thailand, India, Malaysia. Use the trip budget planner.
Paying for treatment
If you’re considering finance, our sister site surgeryloans.com.au has general information about financing medical and dental treatment. Disclosure: surgeryloans.com.au shares ownership with medicaltourism.com.au. See how we make money. Moneysmart has independent guidance on borrowing (Moneysmart (opens official site)).
Full trip cost beyond the procedure fee
Even when a hospital or clinic tariff is later verified, Australians should add:
- Flights (return; sometimes a second trip for staged work or bridge delivery)
- Hotel for the fly-safe window your clinician documents in writing
- Companion costs, time off work, garments, medications and follow-up visits
- Buffer for delayed healing, extra nights or a revision trip (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Travel insurance that may still exclude elective or planned-procedure complications - read the PDS (travel insurance for surgery)
Use the trip budget planner and trip cost calculator for non-procedure travel maths only.
How to compare quotes without “best price” claims
- Same procedure labels and the same inclusions on every quote
- Named clinician and facility on the consent pathway
- Revision or remake policy in writing
- Total trip maths, not procedure-only marketing figures
- Soften “cheapest country” or “best country” searches - compare credentials, aftercare and risk, not inducements
We only publish AUD figures that sit in our verified price table with a source and access date. If status is pending, this page shows Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Methodology note
We only publish AUD figures present in our verified price table with source URL and access date. Empty or pending rows show Price on request, get quotes from clinics. FX converts, when used elsewhere on this site, cite RBA indicative rates and must be rechecked on publish day. This page does not invent package discounts, holiday inducements or “cheapest country” crowns.
Related tools (non-procedure trip maths only): trip cost calculator · currency converter · savings calculator (educational; not a quote).
Guides: choosing a surgeon · questions to ask · complications overseas · aftercare in Australia · flying after surgery.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hip replacement cost overseas?
We only publish verified, dated prices. Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Does Medicare cover a hip replacement overseas?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas.
Why budget beyond the hospital quote?
You need months of rehabilitation at home, and dislocation, infection or revision can add large costs.
When can I fly after a hip replacement?
Ask your surgeon. NICE treats major surgery within 4 weeks as a high-risk factor for travel-related clots.
Should I talk to an Australian GP first?
Yes. Compare options in Australia and arrange physiotherapy before you travel.
What should be in a written quote?
Itemised clinician and facility fees, anaesthetic, stay length, inclusions and exclusions, revision or remake policy, and what happens if you need a longer stay.
Why does the full trip cost matter more than the procedure fee?
Flights, hotel for the fly-safe window, companion costs, time off work, insurance and a revision buffer often exceed a low procedure-only figure (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Does this site pick a best or cheapest country?
No. We soften those anchors. Compare named credentials, facility checks, aftercare at home and total trip maths.
Sources
All accessed 24 October 2026.
- healthdirect, Hip replacement: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hip-replacement
- NHS, Complications of a hip replacement: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/hip-replacement/complications-of-a-hip-replacement/
- RACS, Going overseas for surgery? (patient fact sheet): https://www.surgeons.org/-/media/Project/RACS/surgeons-org/files/patient-information-resources/medical-tourism-patient-fact-sheet.pdf
- Better Health Channel, Medical tourism: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/medical-tourism
- NICE CKS, DVT prevention for travellers: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/dvt-prevention-for-travellers/management/dvt-prevention-for-travellers/
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, What Medicare covers: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/about/what-medicare-covers
- Smartraveller, Going overseas for a medical procedure: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel-essentials/travel-health/medical-tourism
- Moneysmart, Personal loans: https://moneysmart.gov.au/loans/personal-loans
Disclaimer: The information on medicaltourism.com.au is general in nature. It isn’t medical, legal, financial or insurance advice and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Talk to a registered health practitioner before deciding on any procedure. See our editorial policy, medical disclaimer and how we make money.