Surrogacy Costs in the USA: Line-By-Line Breakdown for 2025–2026

Agency Fees ($26,000–$38,000)

Agency fees cover:

• Surrogate recruitment
• Medical pre-screening
• Background checks
• Case management
• Journey coordination
• Intended parent support
• Embryo transport coordination
• Surrogate support services
• Psychological assistance
• 24/7 journey management

What Surrogacy4All includes that others often don’t:

• Physician oversight
• Surrogate medical review before match
• Real clinical coordination
• Transparent reimbursement tracking
• Faster match due to pre-screened pool
• No inflated surrogate allowance payments

Most agencies list a low “base fee” but then add mandatory extras. Surrogacy4All gives a true all-in agency fee.

Surrogate Compensation ($45,000–$65,000)

Surrogates are compensated fairly for the tremendous commitment they make.

Compensation varies by:

• State
• Surrogate experience (repeat surrogates are paid more)
• Health history
• Willingness to carry twins (we recommend single transfers only)
• Insurance needs

Typical Base Compensation

• First-time surrogate: $45,000–$55,000
• Experienced surrogate: $60,000–$65,000

Additional Surrogate Payments (Standard in U.S. Surrogacy)

• Monthly allowance: $250–$350
• Transfer fee: $500–$750
• Maternity clothing: $500–$1,000
• Lost wages (if applicable): varies
• Travel reimbursements: varies

Surrogacy4All follows ethical, transparent compensation guidelines — no inflated payment schemes.

Surrogate Medical & Psychological Screening ($1,600–$3,700)

Medical screening includes:

• Fertility specialist exam
• Uterine assessment
• Infectious disease panel
• Blood tests
• Pap smear
• OB/GYN review

Psychological screening ensures the surrogate:

• Understands the emotional commitment
• Has strong family support
• Is fully prepared for the journey

Surrogacy4All screens before matching, shortening your timeline.

IVF & Embryo Creation ($16,000–$28,000)

IVF costs vary depending on:

• Use of your own eggs
• Donor eggs
• Donor sperm
• Need for PGT genetic testing
• Ovarian stimulation requirements

Typical IVF Costs:

• IVF cycle (meds + monitoring): $14,000–$20,000
• Egg donor cycle (if needed): $14,000–$22,000
• Sperm donor cycle: $700–$1,500
• PGT-A testing: $3,500–$6,000

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) ($3,000–$5,000)

This includes:

• Medicated cycle
• Monitoring
• Ultrasound
• Medication protocol
• Embryologist transfer fee

Most surrogacy journeys require only one transfer, especially with a genetically tested embryo.

Insurance ($15,000–$30,000)

Insurance is one of the most variable and misunderstood cost areas.

Surrogate Insurance Options:

1. Use surrogate’s existing insurance (only if surrogacy-friendly)
2. Purchase a surrogacy-friendly policy
3. Secondary policy for complications
4. Life insurance (typically required)

Surrogacy4All evaluates the surrogate’s insurance before matching.

Legal Fees ($7,000–$12,000)

Each party must have independent legal representation.

Fees include:

• Surrogacy contract drafting
• Surrogate attorney review
• Parentage order
• Birth certificate assignment
• Hospital paperwork
• Passport or travel documentation

Travel ($4,000–$8,000)

Travel may be required for:

• Meeting the surrogate
• Transfer cycles
• 12-week anatomy scan
• Delivery and post-birth

Most parents travel 2–3 times during the journey.

Additional Surrogate Allowances ($6,000–$12,000)

Includes:

• Maternity clothing
• Childcare
• Mileage
• Prenatal supplements
• Lost wages
• Transfer preparation supplies

Surrogacy4All uses standardized reimbursement logs to avoid overbilling.

Contingency Fund ($5,000+)

Rare events like:

• Bedrest
• C-section
• Extra travel
• Additional monitoring
• NICU time

Your case manager helps you plan conservative but realistic contingencies.

Why USA Surrogacy Costs More — But Is Worth It 

• Strongest surrogacy laws
• Highest medical success rates in the world
• Most experienced surrogate population
• Best NICU care & OB care
• Guaranteed parentage
• High insurance quality
• Transparent contracts
• Safe for international parents & LGBTQ+ families

If you want certainty, the U.S. remains the #1 choice globally.

What Most Agencies Don’t Tell You About Surrogacy Costs

Low advertised prices hide mandatory extras

Some agencies quote $70–$90k but omit:

• Insurance
• Legal fees
• Travel
• Embryo creation
• Psychological screening

These are never optional.

Repeat surrogates are more expensive

Because:

• Higher success rates
• Proven compliance
• Fewer medical surprises

Your location changes costs

• California, Oregon, Colorado, Texas = higher rates.
• Midwest and Southeast = more affordable.

Not all insurance is surrogacy-safe

Only an attorney or licensed broker can confirm this.

Cheap programs often lack medical oversight

Surrogacy4All is rare in being physician-run, which reduces:

• Failed transfers
• Inadmissible surrogates
• Legal missteps
• Insurance disasters

How to Reduce Surrogacy Cost Without Reducing Safety

Use genetically tested embryos

This lowers transfer cost, miscarriage risk, and timeline.

Create embryos before choosing country

You can do IVF in the USA or India, then transfer in:

• USA
• Canada
• Ghana

Choose a lower-cost state

Avoid California unless medically necessary.

Use a surrogate with valid surrogacy-friendly insurance

This alone can save $18,000–$25,000.

Use Surrogacy4All’s international hybrid model

Many parents create embryos in the U.S. or India, then do a low-cost program in Ghana or Canada.

When USA Surrogacy Is the Best Choice

Choose U.S. surrogacy if you want:

• Strongest legal certainty
• Highest safety
• Best medical care
• Fastest match
• Most predictable outcomes
• Full LGBTQ+ rights
• Guaranteed citizenship

USA vs Canada vs Ghana – Cost Summary

 Internal links:

• USA Surrogacy
• Canada Surrogacy
• Ghana Surrogacy Program
• International Surrogacy Comparison Guide