Surrogacy Cost — the article + the world, ranked

A fuller editorial guide to surrogacy cost is coming soon. For now, the ranking below compares every country we have assessed on it — open a country's report for the cited detail behind its score.

The country comparison

Which countries are best for surrogacy cost

The destinations ranked high→low under this lens — each with the reasoning behind its score, the cited evidence one click down, and its full report. The verdict is free; the report is the depth.

19 / 19 Countries ranked

Researched and assessed by the Epidaurus editorial pipeline against our published scale. A country below the rule is not yet assessed enough — never ranked last.

1 Colombia CO 4.0/5 Good Colombia demonstrates a good cost advantage with total surrogacy programs costing $50,000–$85,000, representing 40–60% savings versus USA benchmarks of $100,000–$200,000+. Major agencies offer transparent, all-inclusi... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Total cost range $50,000–$85,000 USD is 40–60% less than USA benchmarks ($100,000–$200,000+)
- Transparent all-inclusive packages available from major providers (Sensible Surrogacy, Complete Surrogacy) with clear cost breakdowns and guaranteed live-birth options
- Milestone-based payment structures standard (e.g., Complete Surrogacy: $5k at signing, $35k pre-transfer, $14.5k week 10, $14.5k week 25) distribute financial risk
- EPS universal health insurance covers surrogate and newborn medical complications at no cost to intended parents, eliminating $13,000–$45,000+ private complication insurance required in USA
- Costs have increased notably 2024–2026 from $40–50k to $50–60k baseline; legal framework based on court precedent creates uncertainty risk
Read the full Colombia report →
2 Mexico MX 4.0/5 Good Mexico offers good cost advantages with surrogacy programs costing $50,000-$96,000, representing 50-70% savings versus USA costs of $120,000-$160,000. Reputable agencies provide transparent, all-inclusive pricing with... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Total cost range $50,000-$96,000 (typically $55,800-$85,000) represents 50-70% savings versus USA costs of $120,000-$160,000
- All fees disclosed upfront at reputable agencies with detailed invoices for every stage of the journey; no surprises mentioned as a strength
- Flexible milestone-based payment structures with installments upon contract signing, pregnancy confirmation, and delivery
- Newborn insurance costs $6,000-$9,000 additional; NICU costs range $1,000-$15,000 per day with limited insurance coverage options
- Extended stays of 6-12 weeks post-birth required for documentation and legalization, adding $500-$800 monthly accommodation costs plus living expenses
Read the full Mexico report →
3 Germany DE 1.0/5 Poor Germany offers no domestic surrogacy services whatsoever, as both commercial and altruistic surrogacy are comprehensively prohibited under the Embryo Protection Act. The country is not a medical tourism destination fo... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Surrogacy is completely prohibited in Germany—both commercial and altruistic arrangements are illegal under the Embryo Protection Act (ESchG) of 1990
- No licensed fertility clinic or surrogacy agency in Germany may offer surrogacy services; medical professionals face criminal sentences of 3-5 years imprisonment
- Germany is explicitly stated as 'not a medical tourism destination for surrogacy under any circumstances'
- Foreign intended parents cannot access any surrogacy services in Germany; the country offers no domestic cost structure or pricing transparency
- Even for German residents pursuing surrogacy abroad, they must pay destination-country costs plus additional German legal expenses (€5,000–€20,000) for parentage recognition and potential stepparent adoption
Read the full Germany report →
4 Spain ES 1.0/5 Poor Spain's commercial surrogacy market is entirely non-existent due to comprehensive legal prohibition under Article 10(1) of Law 14/2006, which voids all surrogacy contracts regardless of compensation status. The legal ... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Article 10(1) of Spain's Law 14/2006 explicitly states that all surrogacy contracts—paid or unpaid—are null and void from inception
- December 2024 Supreme Court judgment (No. 1626/2024) refused to recognize foreign surrogacy-based parentage orders as violating Spanish public order
- April 2025 ministerial instruction banned Spanish embassies and consulates from registering children born through surrogacy abroad, eliminating the previous straightforward registration pathway
- No Spanish fertility clinic legally offers surrogacy matching, surrogate recruitment, or surrogacy programme management, despite Spain's recognized strength in other reproductive services
- Spain-resident foreigners pursuing surrogacy abroad must undertake judicial filiation and stepchild adoption proceedings in Spain, incurring €3,000–€8,000 in legal fees and 6–12 months of proceedings
Read the full Spain report →
5 United Kingdom GB 1.0/5 Poor The UK prohibits commercial surrogacy by law (criminal offence under the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985) and offers no practical services to international patients due to a severe, documented surrogate shortage with ... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Commercial surrogacy is a criminal offence under the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985; advertising, negotiating, or arranging commercial surrogacy is illegal
- All three major UK surrogacy organisations (Brilliant Beginnings, My Surrogacy Journey, SurrogacyUK) have either closed waiting lists or operate with 2+ year waiting times with imbalanced intended parent-to-surrogate ratios
- 56% of UK parental order applications now involve international surrogacy, and 1,500+ such applications between 2018–2024 show even UK residents travel abroad (USA 642 applications, Ukraine 258, Georgia 144) rather than use domestic services
- UK total costs (£50,000–£70,000) are comparable to commercial destinations: Ukraine $50,000–$65,000, Georgia $50,000–$65,000, Kenya $35,000–$45,000; no cost advantage over actual alternatives international patients use
- Report states: 'The UK therefore offers no cost advantage over established commercial surrogacy destinations, and comparable costs to other altruistic-only jurisdictions (Canada, Australia) but with worse surrogate availability than both'
Read the full United Kingdom report →
6 Hungary HU 1.0/5 Poor Hungary completely prohibits surrogacy in all forms (commercial and altruistic) under Act CLIV of 1997 on Health Care, §166. Any surrogacy arrangement carries criminal exposure under human trafficking law. No domestic... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Surrogacy explicitly absent from Hungary's exhaustive list of permitted special reproductive procedures under Act CLIV of 1997, §166
- Both commercial and altruistic surrogacy forms are legally prohibited; performing surrogacy falls under human trafficking law
- No legally operating surrogacy agencies, surrogate compensation structures, or surrogacy-related medical services exist in Hungary
- International patients have zero domestic cost options; nearest legal alternatives cost €40,000–€65,000 (Ukraine) to $120,000–$180,000 (USA)
- EU's 2024 anti-trafficking directive reinforces Hungary's legal prohibition by extending trafficking definitions to exploitative surrogacy arrangements
Read the full Hungary report →
7 Israel IL 1.0/5 Poor Israel's surrogacy program is effectively unavailable to international medical tourists without Israeli residency, which is a statutory legal requirement. Although the program offers 50-66% cost savings compared to th... Full report
The evidence behind this score 4 cited points
- Statutory requirement that at least one intended parent must be an Israeli resident, which cannot be circumvented and excludes non-resident international patients
- Report statement: 'For the overwhelming majority of international medical tourists — those without Israeli residency — Israel is not a viable surrogacy destination'
- Costs of NIS 220,000-250,000 (~$60,000-$68,500) provide savings vs USA but are unavailable to the factor's target audience (international medical tourists)
- Legal framework restricts access to Israeli citizens and residents; foreign nationals cannot participate in the domestic program
Read the full Israel report →
8 India IN 1.0/5 Poor India prohibits commercial surrogacy entirely under the 2021 Surrogacy Regulation Act and has banned international patients from accessing any surrogacy services since 2015. While historical costs (pre-2015) were 60-8... Full report
The evidence behind this score 3 cited points
- Commercial surrogacy strictly prohibited; only altruistic surrogacy permitted, with foreign nationals completely banned from accessing services
- November 2015 suspension of all surrogacy-related visas for non-Indian citizens
- 10 years imprisonment and ₹10 lakh fine for clinics; 5 years jail and ₹5 lakh fine for intended parents violating the ban
Read the full India report →
9 Jordan JO 1.0/5 Poor Jordan's Law 25 of 2018 explicitly prohibits all forms of surrogacy, with the Council of the Islamic Fiqh Academy declaring the practice 'Islamically forbidden and absolutely prohibited.' No licensed surrogacy agencie... Full report
The evidence behind this score 3 cited points
- Surrogacy is explicitly prohibited under Jordan's Law 25 of 2018 and Islamic jurisprudence; only intra-marital IVF using the couple's own gametes is legal
- The Council of the Islamic Fiqh Academy declared surrogacy 'Islamically forbidden and absolutely prohibited' in 1986, with this ruling continuing to shape policy for four decades
- No legal surrogate compensation structures, licensed surrogacy agencies, or surrogacy-specific insurance products exist in Jordan's legal market
Read the full Jordan report →
10 Japan JP 1.0/5 Poor Japan offers no cost advantage for surrogacy—the service is effectively unavailable domestically due to the JSOG professional ban since 2003, the 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the 2020 statutory exclusion, and 2025-2026 ... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Japan's JSOG professional ban on surrogacy since 2003 covers virtually the entire licensed fertility profession; no regulated clinics offer surrogacy services
- Japanese intended parents seeking surrogacy must travel to the USA at costs of $150,000–$220,000 all-in, the highest surrogacy cost globally, plus $5,000–$15,000 in Japan-specific legal fees for koseki registration and parentage documentation
- The 2020 ART law explicitly excluded surrogacy, and 2025-2026 legislative movements introduced criminal penalties for arranging surrogacy on Japanese soil
- Foreign intended parents cannot initiate or access any regulated surrogacy service in Japan; no visa pathway, clinical providers, or legal framework exists for international surrogacy patients
- Japan as a destination offers 0% cost savings; Georgia and Ukraine offer 66–73% savings vs USA ($50,000–$65,000), but Japan's framework provides no access to those savings domestically
Read the full Japan report →
11 South Korea KR 1.0/5 Poor South Korea receives a Score 1 because commercial surrogacy is effectively unavailable—it is explicitly illegal under the Bioethics and Safety Act, medical institutions refuse to provide services, and any arrangements... Full report
The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
- Any form of surrogacy is illegal in South Korea with violators facing 3-5 years imprisonment and up to 30 million won in fines
- Medical institutions are usually reluctant to participate in surrogacy procedures due to legal risks and ethical concerns, with most hospitals and doctors avoiding involvement in commercial surrogacy
- Intended parents and surrogates will not have a legally enforceable agreement in courts, creating risks relating to parental rights, custody, and birth registration
- Historical domestic surrogacy arrangements (~$52,000-$77,000 USD) lack legal protection and face serious legal risks, conducted secretly to avoid legal consequences
- The apparent cost savings are illusory when legal risks, lack of enforceability, and potential criminal liability are considered
- As intended parents do not receive regulated parenthood in South Korea, most approach international surrogacy options abroad in countries like the United States, Canada, Georgia, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, and China
Read the full South Korea report →
12 Malaysia MY 1.0/5 Poor While third-party agencies quote surrogacy costs of $30,000–$65,000 (nominally 70–80% below US benchmarks), Malaysia's surrogacy services are effectively unavailable due to legal restrictions and professional prohibit... Full report
The evidence behind this score 8 cited points
- MMC 2025 guidelines explicitly prohibit gamete and embryo donation as 'not permissible and prohibited'
- No dedicated statute permits surrogacy; proposed ART Bill remains unenacted as of mid-2026
- No accredited Malaysian fertility clinic offers surrogacy services; Sunfert International explicitly does not
- Surrogacy contracts likely void under Contract Act 1950, Section 24(e) as contrary to public policy
- Under Evidence Act 1950, Section 112, children born to married surrogates are legally presumed to belong to the birth mother
- Children born through international surrogacy face statelessness risk due to conflicting national laws and absence of international consensus
- No surrogacy-specific insurance market exists in Malaysia; no formal escrow or financial security framework
- No reputable international surrogacy law firm lists Malaysia as a recommended surrogacy destination
Read the full Malaysia report →
13 Poland PL 1.0/5 Poor Poland explicitly prohibits surrogacy under the 2015 Act on Infertility Treatment and mandates that the birth mother is the sole legal mother with no exceptions. No domestic surrogacy industry, agencies, clinics, or p... Full report
The evidence behind this score 4 cited points
- Surrogacy de facto banned since 2008; 2015 Act on Infertility Treatment explicitly forbids embryo transfer for surrogacy purposes [Patient monitoring in Polish assisted reproductive technology centres - PMC/Kaminska - 2018]
- No Polish surrogacy agencies, clinics, or pricing for surrogacy services exist; Polish law renders all surrogacy agreements legally unenforceable [Legal Status of a Child Born Through Surrogacy – Latest From Poland - EAPIL - 2020]
- European Court of Human Rights confirmed Poland does not have to recognise legal effects of foreign surrogacy agreements [Poland does not have to recognise legal effects of foreign surrogacy agreement - Ordo Iuris/ECHR - 2023]
- Polish intended parents pursuing surrogacy abroad incur destination costs (€40,000–€220,000+) plus unpredictable additional Polish domestic legal costs on return, with no certain parentage recognition [International Surrogacy Costs in 2026 - IVF Conceptions - 2026]
Read the full Poland report →
14 Singapore SG 1.0/5 Poor Singapore's surrogacy services are comprehensively prohibited under the Ministry of Health's regulations, making commercial surrogacy unavailable to both domestic residents and international patients. With zero domest... Full report
The evidence behind this score 4 cited points
- Ministry of Health prohibits all licensed Assisted Reproduction centres from performing surrogacy-related procedures, including embryo transfers to surrogate mothers
- No domestic surrogacy market exists; no agencies operate, no clinics perform the procedure, and no surrogacy agreements are legally enforceable
- Singapore offers 0% cost advantage because it provides no surrogacy services at all, making it a non-participant in surrogacy markets
- For international medical tourists seeking surrogacy services inside Singapore, no such option exists and none can legally be provided
Read the full Singapore report →
15 Thailand TH 1.0/5 Poor Thailand has completely prohibited commercial surrogacy for international patients since July 2015 under the Protection of Children Born from Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act, making surrogacy services effective... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Commercial surrogacy banned for international patients since July 30, 2015 under Protection of Children Born from Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act
- Only altruistic surrogacy permitted for married Thai nationals (not accessible to foreigners); international patients cannot legally access any surrogacy services
- Underground illegal surrogacy arrangements carry criminal penalties up to 10 years imprisonment or 200,000 Baht fine
- Proposed 2025 law amendments remain under review as of February 2025 and have not been finalized; even if passed would require blood-relative surrogates and prohibit commercial compensation
- Historical pre-2015 costs of $40,000-$60,000 (60-70% savings vs US benchmarks) are entirely unavailable to international patients
Read the full Thailand report →
16 Turkey TR 1.0/5 Poor Surrogacy is completely prohibited in Turkey with criminal penalties and no legitimate service providers available to international patients. The comprehensive ban has been in effect since 1987, strengthened in 2010 w... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Surrogacy—whether traditional or gestational—is prohibited in Turkey as a matter of statutory regulation, public policy and medical-ethics guidance since 1987
- Prison time between two to five years for those involved in surrogate motherhood, with penalties applicable even if surrogacy takes place in a country where it is legal
- Turkey became the first country in 2010 to legislate against cross-border travel of its citizens seeking third-party reproductive assistance, including surrogacy
- Private contracts attempting to create a surrogacy arrangement are considered invalid and unenforceable under Turkish law
- No licensing framework exists that would allow a clinic to provide surrogacy lawfully inside Turkey; only married heterosexual couples using their own gametes can access IVF services
Read the full Turkey report →
17 United Arab Emirates AE 1.0/5 Poor The UAE's surrogacy market is effectively unavailable for a large proportion of international patients due to two severe restrictions: commercial surrogacy is prohibited (altruistic-only), and donor eggs/sperm are ban... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Commercial surrogacy explicitly prohibited; only altruistic arrangements legal per Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2023
- Own-gametes-only requirement eliminates many international surrogacy patients who need donor eggs/sperm
- Sole licensed Abu Dhabi agency quotes AED 200,000–435,000 (USD 54,000–118,000) with no competitive market pressure
- Realistic international patient costs USD 80,000–150,000 approach USA benchmarks (USD 90,000–200,000+)
- Significantly more expensive than Georgia (USD 40,000–70,000) and Ukraine (USD 30,000–60,000), the primary low-cost surrogacy destinations
Read the full United Arab Emirates report →
18 United States US 1.0/5 Poor The United States represents the most expensive surrogacy destination globally at $150,000-$220,000, serving as the benchmark against which other markets are measured for cost. The report explicitly states that US sur... Full report
The evidence behind this score 6 cited points
- Total US surrogacy costs of $150,000-$220,000 are 100-200% higher than alternative destinations (Canada, Mexico, Colombia)
- Report explicitly states: 'For cost-focused international medical tourists, the USA offers zero cost advantage—instead representing a 100-200% premium over alternative destinations'
- US functions as the global cost benchmark (the high end) against which other surrogacy markets are measured
- International alternatives offer 40-67% cost savings compared to US prices
- Insurance complexity and high variability ($12,000-$35,000) create significant unpredictability and additional costs
- International patients face additional costs for multiple trips and extended 4+ week post-birth stays
Read the full United States report →
19 Brazil BR 1.0/5 Poor Brazil's constitutional prohibition on commercial surrogacy and the requirement that surrogates be family members (up to 4th degree) render the country effectively unavailable for international medical tourists. While... Full report
The evidence behind this score 5 cited points
- Commercial surrogacy constitutionally prohibited under Article 199(4) as organ trafficking, punishable by 3–8 years imprisonment; only altruistic surrogacy permitted
- Surrogate must be a consanguineous relative up to 4th degree (mother, sister, daughter, aunt, or cousin)—requirement that eliminates market access for foreign nationals without qualifying Brazilian relatives
- Estimated total costs $40,000–$100,000 for eligible domestic cases, but services effectively unavailable to international patients due to family-relative restriction
- No professional international surrogacy agencies operate in Brazil; domestic market oriented toward family networks rather than commercial international tourism
- Lack of comprehensive federal surrogacy legislation, specialized insurance, formal escrow services, or financial protection mechanisms creates substantial legal and financial uncertainty
Read the full Brazil report →

See the full ranking, the 1–5 rubric and the reports →