{
  "category": "gym",
  "compiled": "2026-07-10",
  "method": "Monthly dues, annual fees and enrollment/initiation compiled from chain-published pricing and membership-cost aggregators; cross-checked. True first-year cost = monthly x 12 + annual fee + typical enrollment; promos change this. Many chains are franchised and price by location.",
  "unit": "USD per month unless noted; annual and one-time fees called out separately",
  "chains": {
    "planet_fitness": {
      "name": "Planet Fitness",
      "classic": {"price": 15},
      "black_card": {"price": 24.99},
      "annual_fee": 49,
      "true_first_year": {"classic": 230, "black_card": 350},
      "coupon_reality": "$49 annual fee hits both tiers ~8 weeks after joining. $1-down enrollment promos run constantly.",
      "notes": "Black Card adds any-location access, guest privileges, massage chairs.",
      "sources": ["planetfitness.com", "truemed.com/blog/gym-membership-prices"]
    },
    "eos_fitness": {
      "name": "EoS Fitness",
      "base": {"low": 9.99, "note": "Will Do"},
      "mid": {"low": 19.99, "high": 24.99, "note": "Will Crush"},
      "top": {"low": 29.99, "high": 39.99, "note": "Will Power"},
      "annual_fee": 59.99,
      "monthly_service_fee": {"price": 2.99, "note": "waived on ACH"},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 180, "high": 240},
      "coupon_reality": "$59.99 annual fee ~30 days after joining, plus $2.99/mo service fee waived on ACH (~$36/yr).",
      "notes": "Big-box amenities at budget prices; huge in the Southwest. Real monthly after fees ~$20-35.",
      "sources": ["fitnessmembershipcost.com", "thegymprices.com"]
    },
    "crunch": {
      "name": "Crunch Fitness",
      "base": {"low": 10},
      "peak": {"low": 20, "high": 35},
      "annual_fee": 49,
      "true_first_year": {"low": 170, "high": 230},
      "coupon_reality": "Enrollment swings $0-60 by promo; join during a $0-enrollment window.",
      "notes": "Often undercuts Planet Fitness at base; classes gated to Peak tiers.",
      "sources": ["crunch.com", "truemed.com/blog/gym-membership-prices"]
    },
    "chuze_fitness": {
      "name": "Chuze Fitness",
      "basic": {"price": 9.99},
      "premium": {"low": 21.99, "high": 26.99},
      "more": {"low": 32.99, "high": 39.99},
      "annual_fee": 59.99,
      "monthly_cc_fee": {"price": 2.99, "note": "waived on ACH"},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 180, "high": 240},
      "coupon_reality": "$59.99 annual fee billed ~45 days after joining; $2.99/mo credit-card fee waived on ACH (~$36/yr).",
      "notes": "Budget chain with above-budget amenities (pools, saunas, movie rooms); strong in the West. Real monthly after fees ~$15-45.",
      "sources": ["chuzefitness.com/membership/plans/", "fitnessmembershipcost.com/chuze-fitness-membership-cost/"]
    },
    "golds_gym": {
      "name": "Gold's Gym",
      "basic": {"low": 9.95, "high": 29.99},
      "classic": {"low": 40, "high": 60},
      "annual_fee": {"low": 39, "high": 49},
      "enrollment": {"low": 0, "high": 100},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 180, "high": 770},
      "coupon_reality": "Franchised; $0-100 enrollment often waived in January and September. Annual fee 45-90 days after signup.",
      "notes": "Ranges from budget basic plans to full premium clubs by franchise; location tells you more than the name.",
      "sources": ["nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/how-much-does-a-golds-gym-membership-cost", "pricelistnow.com/golds-gym-membership-cost"]
    },
    "blink_fitness": {
      "name": "Blink Fitness",
      "grey": {"price": 15},
      "blue": {"low": 20, "high": 25},
      "green": {"low": 25, "high": 35},
      "student_orange": {"price": 10},
      "annual_fee": 56.99,
      "enrollment": {"low": 1, "high": 49.99},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 240, "high": 300},
      "coupon_reality": "$56.99 annual maintenance fee plus $1-49.99 enrollment.",
      "notes": "No-frills gym-floor-focused chain in the Northeast; no pool/class bloat keeps base price down.",
      "sources": ["gyms.pricelisto.com/blink-fitness", "fitnessmembershipcost.com/blink-fitness-membership-cost/"]
    },
    "la_fitness": {
      "name": "LA Fitness",
      "monthly": {"low": 30, "high": 60},
      "annual_fee": {"low": 50, "high": 75, "note": "varies"},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 450, "high": 800},
      "coupon_reality": "Initiation fees negotiable; end-of-month sales quotas and family deals move the number.",
      "notes": "Mid-range full-service club: pool, basketball, childcare priced in whether used or not.",
      "sources": ["lafitness.com", "truemed.com/blog/gym-membership-prices"]
    },
    "24_hour_fitness": {
      "name": "24 Hour Fitness",
      "gold": {"low": 30, "high": 40},
      "platinum_national": {"note": "higher, multi-club"},
      "annual_fee": 59.99,
      "initiation": {"low": 0, "high": 99, "silver_note": "Silver initiation $79.99"},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 420, "high": 770},
      "coupon_reality": "Initiation $0-99 plus $59.99 annual fee; annual prepay saves ~$36-60 vs month-to-month.",
      "notes": "Tiers gate single- vs multi-club access; CA/NY metros price at the top. 24/7 access is the draw.",
      "sources": ["24hourfitness.com/membership/membership-options/", "nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/24-hour-fitness-membership-cost"]
    },
    "snap_fitness": {
      "name": "Snap Fitness",
      "individual": {"low": 36.95, "high": 61.95, "typical": 39.95},
      "couple_from": {"price": 55},
      "family": {"low": 65, "high": 150},
      "initiation": {"price": 49.95},
      "access_card": {"price": 20},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 520, "high": 820},
      "coupon_reality": "Independently owned; $20 key-card fee and $49.95 initiation on top of monthly. Intro $39 first 3 months common.",
      "notes": "Small-format 24/7 clubs; buying convenient access, not amenities.",
      "sources": ["thegymprices.com/snap-fitness-prices/", "snapfitness.com/us/member-faqs"]
    },
    "anytime_fitness": {
      "name": "Anytime Fitness",
      "us_average": {"typical": 53},
      "one_time": {"note": "initiation + key fees vary"},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 700},
      "coupon_reality": "Franchise pricing varies widely; 24/7 key-fob access is the product. Get the first-year total in writing.",
      "notes": "Premium of the budget group — 5,000+ locations and 3 AM access.",
      "sources": ["anytimefitness.com", "truemed.com/blog/gym-membership-prices"]
    },
    "life_time": {
      "name": "Life Time",
      "individual_from": {"price": 72, "high": 269},
      "couple": {"low": 122, "high": 369},
      "family": {"low": 142, "high": 449},
      "enrollment": {"low": 0, "high": 200},
      "true_first_year": {"low": 860, "high": 3200},
      "coupon_reality": "Enrollment $0-200+ often waived on promo.",
      "notes": "Premium/luxury outlier; resort-style clubs with pools, spa, classes, cafes priced in. 4-7x a budget chain.",
      "sources": ["fitnessmembershipcost.com/lifetime-fitness-membership-cost/", "thegymprices.com/lifetime-fitness-prices/"]
    }
  },
  "cross_chain_facts": [
    "The advertised monthly rate is the bait; annual fees ($39-60) and initiation ($0-100) are the switch.",
    "Roughly 7x spread: Chuze and EoS start at $9.99, Life Time starts near $72.",
    "The annual fee lands weeks after signup, once the card is on file — not optional, not in the ads.",
    "Cancellation friction is a fee in disguise; some chains still require in-person or certified-letter cancellation.",
    "January pricing is the worst pricing; gyms discount hardest in summer and late fall."
  ]
}