Zirconia crown prices, by city
New to this? What is a dental crown?
| Where | Price | vs US | Clinics |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States typical | $1,400 | ||
| Barranquilla Colombia | $293 | 79% less | 4 |
| Bogotá Colombia | $332 | 76% less | 4 |
| Cali Colombia | $386 | 72% less | 4 |
| Cartagena Colombia | $399 | 71% less | 3 |
| Medellín Colombia | $400 | 71% less | 9 |
| Cancún Mexico | $450 | 68% less | 16 |
| Los Algodones Mexico | $450 | 68% less | 18 |
| Playa del Carmen Mexico | $450 | 68% less | 5 |
| Mexico City Mexico | $479 | 66% less | 7 |
| Ciudad Juárez Mexico | $485 | 65% less | 3 |
| Tijuana Mexico | $500 | 64% less | 33 |
| Puerto Vallarta Mexico | $525 | 63% less | 8 |
| San José Costa Rica | $560 | 60% less | 3 |
US dollars. Each clinic counts once, at the median of its own published prices for this procedure. A city is shown from 3 clinics, with the count. US price is a typical national figure from ADA Health Policy Institute / FAIR Health, via FindTheNorm 2026. What a price includes varies by clinic, so confirm it with the clinic before you travel.
Questions about zirconia crown
What is a zirconia crown?
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a damaged tooth, or sits on top of an implant. Zirconia is a hard white ceramic, and Cleveland Clinic calls zirconia crowns "extremely durable" and able to take heavier chewing forces 13. Other materials on price lists are porcelain, e.max (a glass ceramic called lithium disilicate), porcelain fused to metal, and gold 13. Full guide: What is a dental crown?
Zirconia, e.max or porcelain fused to metal?
Ask the dentist why a given material for that tooth. A review of 13 studies found five-year survival of 96.6% for e.max crowns, 96% for zirconia, and more than 95% for metal-ceramic crowns 14. Porcelain looks most like natural enamel; porcelain fused to metal is strong but the porcelain can chip and show the metal over time 13. Materials are usually priced differently, so the quote should name the one you are getting.
How many visits does a crown take?
Two, in the traditional method. On the first, the dentist shapes the tooth, takes an impression and fits a temporary crown. A lab then makes the crown, usually two to three weeks. On the second, the final crown is cemented 13. Some clinics mill crowns on site and fit them in one visit 13. For a trip abroad, ask how many days you must stay between visits, or whether the clinic makes crowns the same day.
How long does a crown last?
Cleveland Clinic gives five to 15 years on average, and some last upwards of 30 with good care 13. The usual problems are chipping, fracture, a gap at the edge, discoloration at the margin and decay under the crown 14. The tooth has to be ground down, which cannot be reversed, and teeth can be sensitive to heat and cold afterwards 13. A night guard protects the crown if you grind 13.
What does a zirconia crown cost abroad?
Zirconia crown: what it costs by city
| City | Price | vs US | Clinics |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States typical | $1,400 | ||
| Barranquilla Colombia | $293 | 79% less | 4 |
| Bogotá Colombia | $332 | 76% less | 4 |
| Cali Colombia | $386 | 72% less | 4 |
| Cartagena Colombia | $399 | 71% less | 3 |
| Medellín Colombia | $400 | 71% less | 9 |
| Cancún Mexico | $450 | 68% less | 16 |
| Los Algodones Mexico | $450 | 68% less | 18 |
| Playa del Carmen Mexico | $450 | 68% less | 5 |
| Mexico City Mexico | $479 | 66% less | 7 |
| Ciudad Juárez Mexico | $485 | 65% less | 3 |
| Tijuana Mexico | $500 | 64% less | 33 |
| Puerto Vallarta Mexico | $525 | 63% less | 8 |
| San José Costa Rica | $560 | 60% less | 3 |
Ask whether the temporary crown, X-rays, a root canal or a post and core are in the price, and which material the price is for.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic, "Dental Crowns: Types, Procedure & Care". https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10923-dental-crowns
- Aswal GS et al., "Clinical Outcomes of CAD/CAM (Lithium disilicate and Zirconia) Based and Conventional Full Crowns and Fixed Partial Dentures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis", Cureus, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10199723/