Objective To estimate the economic burden of diagnosing and treating cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) and cervical cancer throughout the disease course. Design Cross-sectional survey Setting National Population of Sample A total of 3471 women pathologically diagnosed with SIL and cervical cancer. Main Outcome Measures The median(IQR) of total costs (including direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs), reimbursement rate by medical insurance, and catastrophic health expenditures in every clinical stage of the disease were calculated. Results The estimated total costs of LSIL and HSIL in urban areas were $1,637.7( IQR $956.4-$2,669.2) and $2,467.1( IQR $1,579.1-$3,762.3), while $459.0( IQR $167.7-$1,330.3) and $1,230.5( IQR $560.6-$2,104.5) in rural areas. For patients with cervical cancer stage IA, IB, IIA, IIB, and III-IV, the total costs were $15,034.9( IQR $11,083.4-$21,632.4), $19,438.6( IQR $14,060.0-$26,505.9), $22,968.8( IQR $16,068.8-$34,615.9), $26,936.0( IQR $18,176.6-$41,386.0) and $27,332.6( IQR $17,538.7-$44,897.0), respectively. 43%-55% of direct medical costs in cervical cancer were covered by medical insurance, which was 19%-43% in SIL. The expense was catastrophic for most cervical cancer patients, except for the urban residents with stage IA. For rural cervical cancer patients, the extent of catastrophic health expenditure was about twice larger than that for urban residents in each cancer stage. Conclusions The total costs of SIL and cervical cancer are substantial in China, while a large proportion of costs are unnecessary for LSIL. As for patients with cervical cancer, even with medical insurance, the catastrophic health expenditures are considerable, especially for rural residents.