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: Knee replacement is major surgery. Recovery takes around three months, with ongoing rehabilitation for the life of the joint (Better Health Channel (opens official site)). Most of that follow-up happens in Australia, so budget for physio, time off work and a buffer if something goes wrong. Smartraveller warns that fixing a procedure that goes wrong can cost more (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Risks and limitations to understand first
Better Health Channel lists possible complications including (Better Health Channel (opens official site)):
- wound infection, and in severe cases amputation
- the prosthesis breaking or working loose, and joint dislocation
- numbness, nerve damage and blood vessel damage
- clots in the leg veins, lung infection, heart attack, stroke and death
Also:
- RACS lists counterfeit implants, poor documentation and the cost of evacuation among the risks of surgery overseas (RACS (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))
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas (Department of Health (opens official site))
See knee replacement overseas for the full risks guide.
What affects the quote
- Implant make, model and whether documentation travels home with you (RACS (opens official site))
- Surgeon, anaesthetic, theatre and hospital stay length
- Imaging, bloods and pre-operative assessment
- Physiotherapy while you are overseas and what is excluded
- What happens if you need a longer stay or emergency care
Ask for a written, itemised quote in English, including implant details.
Medicare and insurance
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas (Smartraveller (opens official site)). In Australia, knee 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 | Hospital 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 |
Destinations often discussed for orthopaedics include Thailand, India and 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 knee replacement cost overseas?
We only publish verified, dated prices. Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Does Medicare cover a knee replacement overseas?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas.
Why budget beyond the hospital quote?
You need months of rehabilitation at home, and complications or revision can add large costs.
When can I fly after a knee 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 public and private options in Australia and arrange rehab 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.
- Better Health Channel, Knee replacement surgery: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/knee-replacement-surgery
- 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
- 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
- Smartraveller, Medical tourism: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/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.