Cheapest Cities to Open a Gym / Fitness Studio (2026)
Oklahoma City, Memphis, Cleveland top the list — first-year costs start at $104,829 and reach $236,181. All 50 cities ranked by total cost, adjusted for local cost of living.
The three cheapest cities to start a gym / fitness studio are Oklahoma City ($104,829/yr), Memphis ($108,618/yr), and Cleveland ($112,407/yr) — vs. $236,181 in New York, the most expensive city in our dataset. All estimates are 2026 figures adjusted for each city's cost of living.
Oklahoma City
OK
Cheapest City
$104,829
Oklahoma City
National Median
$126,300
Phoenix
National Average
$140,067
50-city average
Most Expensive
$236,181
New York
All Cities Ranked — Gym / Fitness Studio Startup Cost
Sorted cheapest to most expensive. Click column headers to re-sort.
| # | City | COL Index | Upfront | Year 1 Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City OK 🥇 | 83.0 | $46,065 | $104,829 | Details → |
| 2 | Memphis TN 🥈 | 86.0 | $47,730 | $108,618 | Details → |
| 3 | Cleveland OH 🥉 | 89.0 | $49,395 | $112,407 | Details → |
| 4 | Detroit MI | 89.0 | $49,395 | $112,407 | Details → |
| 5 | St. Louis MO | 90.0 | $49,950 | $113,670 | Details → |
| 6 | Omaha NE | 91.0 | $50,505 | $114,933 | Details → |
| 7 | Louisville KY | 91.0 | $50,505 | $114,933 | Details → |
| 8 | San Antonio TX | 91.0 | $50,505 | $114,933 | Details → |
| 9 | Indianapolis IN | 92.0 | $51,060 | $116,196 | Details → |
| 10 | Tucson AZ | 93.0 | $51,615 | $117,459 | Details → |
| 11 | Cincinnati OH | 93.0 | $51,615 | $117,459 | Details → |
| 12 | Milwaukee WI | 93.0 | $51,615 | $117,459 | Details → |
| 13 | Houston TX | 93.0 | $51,615 | $117,459 | Details → |
| 14 | Kansas City MO | 94.0 | $52,170 | $118,722 | Details → |
| 15 | Minneapolis MN | 95.0 | $52,725 | $119,985 | Details → |
| 16 | Columbus OH | 95.0 | $52,725 | $119,985 | Details → |
| 17 | Jacksonville FL | 96.0 | $53,280 | $121,248 | Details → |
| 18 | Pittsburgh PA | 97.0 | $53,835 | $122,511 | Details → |
| 19 | Fort Worth TX | 97.0 | $53,835 | $122,511 | Details → |
| 20 | Mesa AZ | 98.0 | $54,390 | $123,774 | Details → |
| 21 | Charlotte NC | 98.0 | $54,390 | $123,774 | Details → |
| 22 | New Orleans LA | 99.0 | $54,945 | $125,037 | Details → |
| 23 | Orlando FL | 99.0 | $54,945 | $125,037 | Details → |
| 24 | Richmond VA | 99.0 | $54,945 | $125,037 | Details → |
| 25 | Raleigh NC | 100.0 | $55,500 | $126,300 | Details → |
| 26 | Phoenix AZ | 100.0 | $55,500 | $126,300 | Details → |
| 27 | Dallas TX | 101.0 | $56,055 | $127,563 | Details → |
| 28 | Tampa FL | 101.0 | $56,055 | $127,563 | Details → |
| 29 | Virginia Beach VA | 101.0 | $56,055 | $127,563 | Details → |
| 30 | Las Vegas NV | 103.0 | $57,165 | $130,089 | Details → |
| 31 | Nashville TN | 103.0 | $57,165 | $130,089 | Details → |
| 32 | Philadelphia PA | 103.0 | $57,165 | $130,089 | Details → |
| 33 | Austin TX | 103.0 | $57,165 | $130,089 | Details → |
| 34 | Atlanta GA | 105.0 | $58,275 | $132,615 | Details → |
| 35 | Chicago IL | 107.0 | $59,385 | $135,141 | Details → |
| 36 | Baltimore MD | 108.0 | $59,940 | $136,404 | Details → |
| 37 | Denver CO | 112.0 | $62,160 | $141,456 | Details → |
| 38 | Portland OR | 113.0 | $62,715 | $142,719 | Details → |
| 39 | Sacramento CA | 118.0 | $65,490 | $149,034 | Details → |
| 40 | Miami FL | 123.0 | $68,265 | $155,349 | Details → |
| 41 | San Diego CA | 146.0 | $81,030 | $184,398 | Details → |
| 42 | Seattle WA | 149.0 | $82,695 | $188,187 | Details → |
| 43 | Washington DC | 152.0 | $84,360 | $191,976 | Details → |
| 44 | Boston MA | 152.0 | $84,360 | $191,976 | Details → |
| 45 | Los Angeles CA | 152.0 | $84,360 | $191,976 | Details → |
| 46 | Long Beach CA | 155.0 | $86,025 | $195,765 | Details → |
| 47 | Oakland CA | 161.0 | $89,355 | $203,343 | Details → |
| 48 | San Jose CA | 170.0 | $94,350 | $214,710 | Details → |
| 49 | San Francisco CA | 179.0 | $99,345 | $226,077 | Details → |
| 50 | New York NY | 187.0 | $103,785 | $236,181 | Details → |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest city to open a gym / fitness studio?
Oklahoma City, OK is the most affordable city in our dataset for starting a gym / fitness studio, with estimated first-year costs of $104,829 — $46,065 upfront and $4,897/month ongoing, based on 2026 data adjusted for local cost of living.
What drives cost differences between cities?
The main driver is each city's cost-of-living (COL) index, which reflects local rent, labor rates, and supply costs. High-COL cities like New York (COL index 187.0) cost significantly more than low-COL cities like Oklahoma City (COL index 83.0). A COL index of 100 means average US costs; 80 means 20% below average.
How much more does it cost in the most expensive city?
Starting a gym / fitness studio in New York ($236,181/yr) costs $131,352 more than in Oklahoma City ($104,829/yr) — a 125% difference.
Should I choose the cheapest city just to save on startup costs?
Not always. Lower-cost cities also tend to have lower average incomes, smaller customer bases, and fewer anchor employers. A gym / fitness studio in New York may cost twice as much to start but serve a market three times the size. Use this ranking as a starting point, then weigh local demand, competition, and your own personal network before choosing a location.
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