How Much Is Too Much to Spend on Fitness?

For many people, fitness is more than a hobby: it’s a priority, or even a lifestyle. And when something’s that important to you, you’re typically willing to find ways to fit it into your budget. But how much is the average person actually willing to spend on fitness?

With the popularity of fitfluencers on social media, it can sometimes feel like working out requires a membership to an exclusive influencer gym, regular attendance at trendy boutique classes, and a constantly updated closet of workout gear — all of which can seriously add up. But as we all know by now, what we see online is rarely 100 percent real. Fitfluencers often get gym membership, classes, and clothing for free — so the idea that the average person needs to shell out to afford all of that to work out effectively is false. While more could be done to make fitness truly accessible to all people, it’s possible to tap into all the benefits of exercise without much more than a comfortable outfit. (And maybe not even that, per Lenny Kravitz.)

Even so, people who exercise because they love it and it makes them feel good may view spending on fitness is akin to paying for therapy — it’s an investment in their mental well-being. Others may find that spending a little extra on their gym habit helps keep them accountable and encourage consistency.

We were curious about how much people feel comfortable spending on their fitness activities and gear. So we anonymously polled our PS.Fit Instagram followers. Over 900 people responded to our Instagram story, and their responses were enlightening. Here, we break down the results.

Gym memberships are one of the biggest fitness expenses, but how much are people willing to pay each month? In our PS.Fit Instagram poll, 903 people responded to this question — most indicating that they look for more affordable options, like what’s offered at budget-friendly gyms like Crunch Fitness and Planet Fitness. Here’s how the responses shook out:

Of course, people’s workout habits influence how much they’re willing to spend at the gym. These days, there’s a plethora of free or low-cost at-home workout content online (shout-out PS Fit on YouTube!), with plenty of options for bodyweight exercises or workouts requiring minimal equipment. People who enjoy working out at home or who are committed to a specific boutique class may only use a gym membership as a supplement to their routine, rather than the main event — in which case, going for a lower-cost and more bare-bones gym membership makes a lot of sense.

Group fitness classes are another popular option, but they can sometimes elicit sticker shock. (Looking at you, Tracy Anderson Method, with your $45 50-minute classes.) Still, people can be super faithful to their favorite class — so how much are people willing to spend per class? According to the 882 people who answered this question, there’s a wide range of preferences:

Again, a person’s workout habits will likely influence their response. If they treat themselves to a class once a week, they may be more willing to spend a little more than if they do the majority of their weekly workouts at a studio, in which case they may also opt to purchase a membership or class pack at a discounted rate.

We knew this question would be tough, since there’s such a wide range to how much workout clothing can cost, from leggings to sports bras to tops. But the general consensus from the 856 people who responded to this poll question was that it pays to spend a little more on higher-quality clothing, which may perform better during training and hold up better over time.

While the votes were fairly evenly split across the under-$100 options, the most popular price range for workout clothing was between $25 and $50. That’s not an insignificant amount of money, but it’s more in the range of activewear from brands like Aritzia, Old Navy, and Athleta, versus Lululemon, Beyond Yoga, and Alo, which may approach and exceed the $100 mark.

Good workout shoes do naturally tend to be more expensive, but we’d argue that they’re the one piece of workout gear that’s actually essential — unless you’re only doing shoe-less activities like yoga and Pilates. Workout sneakers form the foundation of your workout, with running shoes helping cushion impact and support proper form to reduce injury. Here, how much the 870 respondents to our poll are willing to spend.

The clear majority of respondents are willing to spend $60 or more on a good pair of shoes, which doesn’t come as a huge surprise to us, considering the average price of sneakers and how essential they are to working out comfortably.

This is another broad category. Different types of workout equipment — from dumbbells to yoga mats — have drastically different price points. But according to 738 poll respondents, this is what they’re generally willing to spend on gear:

These results were very evenly split, likely reflecting people’s varied workout needs. Someone who mostly does yoga may only be thinking about investing in a yoga mat, whereas someone who loves strength training may be considering the often-high cost of gear like dumbbells, weight racks, and benches. Then, of course, there’s smart home equipment like Peloton, Amp, or Tonal, and cardio machines like treadmills, which come at a much higher price point.

Our poll results seem to be in line with other data. For instance, in 2021, people in the US spent an average of $112 on workout equipment, with some investing even more for premium, high-tech machines or complete home gym setups, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of course, that was during the height of the pandemic, when many more people were investing in working out from home. Now, that number may be a little lower.

There’s no one answer that works for everyone. Overall, the survey results from our Instagram poll reveal that while people are invested in their fitness, there’s a strong preference for affordable options across gym memberships, classes, and equipment. However, when it comes to shoes and clothing, there’s a noticeable willingness to spend more on quality.

Wherever you are in your fitness journey, and whatever you can afford, consistency is key. If you’re able to afford a matching set and you think looking cute will encourage you to get to the gym, go for it! But if a gym membership or gear isn’t in your budget, know that there are plenty of low-cost and free ways to work out. What’s in your wallet doesn’t have to have any impact on how much you can move.

Jade Esmeralda (she/her), MS, CSCS, is a health and fitness staff writer and a strength and conditioning specialist. A lifelong martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength and conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise science and strength and conditioning from George Washington University.