How the gym cost comparison works
Last updated 10 November 2026
A gym advert shows a monthly fee, but the cost of membership also includes a joining fee, price increases and sometimes a fee to leave early. This page adds all of them up over the number of months you expect to stay, so you can compare memberships on what you really pay.
How it works
- Enter how many months you expect to stay and how often you go.
- Add each membership with its joining fee, monthly fee, yearly increase, contract length and the fee to leave early.
- Read which one costs least over your stay, the average cost a month and the cost of each visit.
Worked example
With the starting examples (these are not real gyms):
- Over 18 months, Gym B (12-month contract) costs R 7 711 in total, or R 428.40 a month on average.
- The dearest of the three, Gym A (month to month), costs R 10 949, which is R 3 238 more.
Joining fees and yearly increases
A joining fee is paid once, so it weighs more when you stay for a short time. A yearly increase compounds, so it weighs more when you stay for a long time. That is why the cheapest membership changes with the months you enter. Try a shorter and a longer stay to see how the order moves.
Contracts and leaving early
A month-to-month membership lets you stop whenever you like, usually at a higher monthly fee. A fixed contract often has a lower fee but charges you if you leave early. The tool adds the early exit fee only when your stay is shorter than the contract. If your contract charges the months that remain instead of a fixed fee, work out that amount and enter it.
Cost of each visit
Dividing the total by the number of visits shows what each workout costs. A membership you use twice a month costs far more per visit than the same membership used twelve times, so be realistic about how often you will go.
About the figures
Every amount comes from you. The tool does not know gym prices and does not name gyms. Prices and terms can vary by branch and by month, so check the current price list and read the contract. This is a way to add up numbers, not advice on which gym to join. Read the full disclaimer.
Things to watch
- Check the contract for extra fees such as cards, towels, classes or a cancellation notice period.
- A promotional price may change after the first few months.
Related: the monthly budget planner, the affordability check and the work time calculator.