Fitness or Finances? Young Adults Struggle as Gym Prices Rise

Reporter: Baylie Mankee

PHOENIX – Rising gym membership costs are making fitness less accessible for young adults, raising concerns about how income inequality affects health and wellness across Arizona. 

According to Well Fit Insider, gym memberships in the U.S. range from $50 to $70 per month, but can reach $300 for boutique studios and specialty gyms. Planet Fitness, a gym that built its image on inclusion and affordability, recently raised its $10 membership price by 50 percent for the first time since 1998. 

Over the past few years, Americans have been spending significantly more on fitness. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal spending on recreational membership services has doubled from 2020-2024, and its percentage of total spending has increased from 1.02 percent to 1.46 percent. 

This national trend reflects the local issue of rising gym membership prices in Arizona. 

19-year-old Alli Clark recently began her fitness journey at Planet Fitness last month after getting a job that provided her with adequate funds to afford a membership. 

“Cost made it difficult for me to start working out earlier,” Clark said. “Gym memberships are financially out of reach for the younger audience if you’re not on your parents' plan or have someone else paying for it.” 

The percentage of young adults who met guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities increased with higher family income, according to the CDC. The data show that young adults in low tax brackets are almost twice as likely to fall short of meeting recommended physical activity guidelines. 

In Clark’s experience, any “at-home” workouts didn’t make a difference in her fitness journey. 

“I was very unmotivated before getting my membership,” Clark said. “I was discouraged before even trying.” 

Planet Fitness is one of the least expensive gyms accessible to young adults, but higher-end gyms such as Mountainside Fitness and Snap Fitness charge more than double for a monthly membership. 

Chelsea Powers is a 20-year-old personal trainer at Mountainside Fitness, a gym that charges nearly $50 for an individual month-to-month membership. She said many potential members say the financial aspect is the only thing stopping them from signing up. 

“Fitness has become and is still becoming a sign of financial freedom and success,” Powers said. “Many people cannot afford time out of their day to put hours and hours into extreme training.” 

She said most of her clients are individuals who are out of school and hold stable jobs. However, Powers emphasized that most gym trainers will often compromise with potential members to meet their financial needs.

“Gyms like Mountainside are flexible and work with you to make a plan so you can afford a membership… But many teens and young adults just put having a gym membership at the top of their priorities and work hard to afford it.” 

Price remains a challenge even at smaller, local gyms. At Snap Fitness in Marana, personal trainer Brogan Sharp said they have recently faced issues with younger individuals sneaking in during unstaffed hours to avoid paying for a membership or guest pass. 

“Affordability is most likely the main reason. Our gym is the cheapest in the area, and people still struggle to afford it,” Sharp said. 

Similar to Powers, Sharp defined their target demographic as middle-aged to older-aged individuals, a common trend that reflects Clark’s concern about affordability in her own generation. 

“The older I get, the more bills become my responsibility,” Clark said. “I really enjoy going to the gym and I have seen so many improvements in my health, so I would hate to lose that privilege.” 

As gyms continue to raise prices, many young adults may find that staying healthy depends less on motivation and more on what they can afford.