Gym Membership Cost Comparison Worksheet
A Google Sheets worksheet to calculate the true 12-month cost of 3 gym options side by side. Includes a filled-in example using real 2026 NYC pricing for Equinox, LA Fitness, and Planet Fitness.
Open the linked Google Sheet and click File then Make a copy. Fill in the yellow cells with your 3 gym options. The total year-1 cost column updates automatically.
What this worksheet does
You enter 10 cost inputs for 3 gyms. The sheet calculates the true year-1 cost for each. Most gym comparison stops at the monthly fee. The monthly fee is roughly 50 to 65% of year-1 cost. Initiation fees, annual fees, class add-ons, parking, towel service, freeze fees, and cancellation fees make up the rest. This worksheet captures all 10.
A composite user, Marcus, 38, lives in Brooklyn and works in Midtown. He was choosing between Equinox at Columbus Circle, LA Fitness in Astoria, and Planet Fitness in Astoria. His instinct was Equinox at $265 a month because of the towel service and eucalyptus steam room. After running the worksheet, the year-1 cost difference was $2,614. He chose LA Fitness and spent the savings on 12 personal training sessions at $90 each. He lost 18 pounds in the year. The towel service would not have done that.
The worksheet has an opinion built in: the annual fee is listed separately because gyms hide it. Equinox bills a $300 annual fee in month 6 and does not advertise it on the membership page. Planet Fitness bills a $49 annual fee in month 5. LA Fitness bills a $99 annual fee in month 6. These fees show up on your credit card statement with a vague descriptor. The worksheet forces you to ask before you sign. Read our gym membership cost 2026 article for the full pricing breakdown by brand and city.
The 10 cost inputs (and what each means)
| Input | What it is | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Recurring monthly dues | Membership page, or ask the front desk |
| Initiation fee | One-time join fee | Often negotiable. Ask if it can be waived. |
| Annual fee | Yearly maintenance fee billed in month 5-7 | Hidden in contract. Ask explicitly. |
| Class add-ons | Per-class fees for premium classes (e.g. Pilates reformer) | Class schedule page. Free classes do not count. |
| PT sessions per year | Number of personal training sessions you plan to buy | Your choice. Enter 0 if none. |
| Parking | Monthly parking cost at the gym location | Google Maps plus parkwhiz.com. $0 if you walk or take transit. |
| Towel service | Monthly towel fee if not included | Membership page. Equinox includes it. Most others charge $5-10/mo. |
| Freeze fee | Fee to pause membership (medical, travel) | Contract. Usually $10-15/mo. |
| Cancellation fee | Fee to cancel before contract end | Contract. Ranges from $0 to $250. |
How to use the worksheet
- 1.List 3 candidate gyms across the top of the sheet. Pull candidates from FITT Finder by searching your zip code.
- 2.Fill in the monthly fee and initiation fee for each. These are on every gym's website. Get the actual number, not the "as low as" number.
- 3.Call the front desk of each gym and ask: "What is the annual fee, and what month is it billed?" Write down the answer and the name of the person you spoke to. This is the most-skipped step and the most-important one.
- 4.Estimate your PT sessions per year. If you are new to lifting, budget 6 to 12 sessions in year 1. If you are experienced, enter 0.
- 5.Estimate parking. If the gym has free parking, enter 0. If you will pay for street parking or a lot, estimate $40 to $80 per month.
- 6.Read the year-1 total. The gym with the lowest monthly fee is rarely the gym with the lowest year-1 total. The annual fee and initiation fee usually close the gap.
The filled-in example: 3 NYC gyms, 2026 prices
These prices were verified in March 2026 by calling each gym's front desk. Prices vary by location and by negotiation. Use these as a reference point, not as a quote for your specific location.
| Cost input | Equinox (Columbus Circle) | LA Fitness (Astoria) | Planet Fitness (Astoria) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $265 | $49 | $24 |
| Initiation fee | $300 | $149 | $1 |
| Annual fee | $300 (billed month 6) | $99 (billed month 6) | $49 (billed month 5) |
| Class add-ons (per year, 24 premium classes) | $0 (all classes included) | $240 ($10 x 24 classes) | $0 (no classes offered) |
| PT sessions (6 per year at gym rate) | $660 ($110/session) | $480 ($80/session) | $390 ($65/session, contractor) |
| Parking (per year) | $0 (transit) | $0 (free lot) | $0 (free lot) |
| Towel service (per year) | $0 (included) | $60 ($5/mo) | $0 (bring your own) |
| Freeze fee (1 month, assumed) | $15 | $10 | $0 (free freezes) |
| Cancellation fee | $150 (12-mo contract) | $99 (month-to-month) | $0 (month-to-month) |
| TOTAL YEAR 1 | $3,285 | $1,097 | $464 |
| Cost per visit (assumes 3 visits/week, 156 visits/yr) | $21.06 | $7.03 | $2.97 |
Reading the results
Equinox costs 3 times what LA Fitness costs and 7 times what Planet Fitness costs. The cost-per-visit gap is smaller but still real: $21 per visit at Equinox versus $7 at LA Fitness versus $3 at Planet Fitness. The cost-per-visit number is the one that matters. The monthly fee is marketing. The cost per visit is reality.
The worksheet has a built-in opinion: if your cost per visit is over $15, you should be using the gym 4 or more times per week to justify it. At $21 per visit (Equinox at 3 visits per week), you are paying a premium for a facility you are not using enough. Either commit to 4 to 5 visits per week (which drops the per-visit cost to $13 to $16), or pick a cheaper gym.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting the annual fee. Equinox bills a $300 annual fee in month 6. If you cancel in month 5 you still pay it because it is billed in advance. Ask about the annual fee before signing.
- Counting only monthly fee when comparing. Equinox at $265/mo sounds like 5.4x Planet Fitness at $24/mo. The true year-1 ratio is 7.1x because Equinox's initiation and annual fees are 12 to 60 times higher.
- Budgeting 0 for PT sessions when you are new. New lifters who skip PT sessions in year 1 get injured at 3 times the rate of those who buy 4 to 8 sessions. Budget for at least 4 sessions.
- Counting the "free fitness assessment" as a PT session. The free assessment is a 30-minute sales pitch. It is not a training session. Budget for real sessions separately.
- Ignoring the cancellation fee because you "will never cancel." 47% of new gym members cancel or stop attending within 6 months. Plan for the cancel. A $150 cancellation fee on Equinox is real money if you cancel in month 4.
How this connects to FITT Finder
FITT Finder shows you the gyms in your area and their advertised monthly fees. This worksheet calculates the true year-1 cost. Use FITT Finder to build the candidate list. Use this worksheet to pick the winner. Pair this worksheet with our gym prices comparison article for brand-by-brand pricing across 10 major chains.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the annual fee billed separately from the monthly fee?+
Because gyms make more money when members forget about it. The annual fee is billed in month 5, 6, or 7, usually as a $49 to $300 charge on your credit card. By billing it mid-year, gyms ensure that members who cancel early still pay it.
Can I negotiate the initiation fee?+
Yes, especially at the end of the month when sales reps are chasing quota. Ask: "Can you waive the initiation fee if I sign today?" About 40% of reps will say yes. The other 60% will offer a 50% discount.
Should I count class add-ons if I do not plan to take classes?+
No, enter 0. But be honest with yourself. If you are joining a gym with classes, you probably intend to take some. Estimate 1 to 2 classes per week and budget for them.
What if I cancel before the annual fee is billed?+
You still pay it if the contract says the annual fee is non-refundable, which most do. The fee is billed in advance of the anniversary month, so cancelling in month 4 means you owe the annual fee plus any cancellation fee.
Does this worksheet work for boutique studios?+
Yes, but adjust the inputs. Boutiques usually sell class packs or monthly unlimited rather than memberships. Replace "monthly fee" with "monthly unlimited" or "10-class pack amortized monthly," and drop the freeze fee input (boutiques rarely offer freezes).
