Cheapest Cities to Start a Gym in 2026

Startup costs for a gym vary by up to $612,054 depending on location. Here are the 20 most affordable cities to launch.

💡 Key Finding: Starting a gym in Dayton costs an estimated $151,250, compared to $763,304 in San Francisco — a savings of $612,054.

20 Cheapest Cities to Open a Gym

#	City	Avg Startup Cost	Low End	High End	vs National
1	Dayton, OH	$151,250	$27,500	$275,000	-45%
2	Macon, GA	$151,250	$27,500	$275,000	-45%
3	Warner Robins, GA	$151,250	$27,500	$275,000	-45%
4	Montgomery, AL	$155,966	$28,357	$283,575	-43%
5	Conway, AR	$156,324	$28,422	$284,225	-43%
6	Bloomington, IL	$165,413	$30,075	$300,750	-40%
7	Decatur, IL	$167,008	$30,365	$303,650	-39%
8	Frankfort, KY	$168,534	$30,643	$306,425	-39%
9	Knoxville, TN	$168,905	$30,710	$307,100	-39%
10	Shreveport, LA	$170,005	$30,910	$309,100	-38%
11	South Bend, IN	$170,707	$31,038	$310,375	-38%
12	Lafayette, LA	$173,897	$31,618	$316,175	-37%
13	Springfield, IL	$175,574	$31,922	$319,225	-36%
14	Evansville, IN	$176,811	$32,147	$321,475	-36%
15	College Station, TX	$178,695	$32,490	$324,900	-35%
16	Memphis, TN	$179,424	$32,623	$326,225	-35%
17	St. Joseph, MO	$182,202	$33,128	$331,275	-34%
18	Baton Rouge, LA	$183,494	$33,363	$333,625	-33%
19	Tyler, TX	$184,223	$33,495	$334,950	-33%
20	Yakima, WA	$185,158	$33,665	$336,650	-33%