Looking for an affordable gym in Canada? Budget gyms are becoming increasingly more popular than high-end and even mid-range gyms in Canada, according to a report from the Canadian Business magazine.
Affordable gyms often offer no-contract memberships for as low as $10 to $20 per month, while some cost a bit more but offer additional perks.
Below, I’ll share some of the cheapest gyms in Canada so that you can find the perfect fit for your lifestyle and budget!
Choosing The Best Gym: Things To Keep In Mind
Here are a few key tips to help you choose the best gym:
- Contract vs No-Contract Gyms: Contracts can lock you in and may entail fees if you cancel early. If flexibility is important, look for a no-contract gym.
- Annual Fees: Most gyms charge some form of annual membership fee. These can vary between $25 and $100 or more. Double-check the annual fee before you sign-up.
- Perks And Bonuses: Your gym membership could help you save while shopping online or when purchasing certain supplements. These can help you save even more money.
- Gym Hours: Make sure the gym’s hours work around your schedule. Otherwise, you’ll find it hard to visit.
- Distance From Your Home And Work: Try to find a gym within 20 minutes of your home or office to maximize productivity and limit wasted fuel.
- The People Who Go There: Look for a gym with a good culture. Your next business partner or employer could also go there.
The 8 Cheapest Gyms In Canada
As the age-old adage goes, “Health is wealth.” That doesn’t mean you should have to pay an arm and a leg for a gym membership, though.
Plus, staying healthy and going to the gym can help reduce your health and life insurance premiums.
1. Fit4Less
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 100+
- Cheapest Membership Option: $7.99 bi-weekly
- Contract Required: No
Fit4Less is, hands down, one of the cheapest gyms in Canada. If you’re looking for a simple, clean, well-designed gym with all of the basics (and often more), then this gym is definitely worth looking into.
Fit4Less offers two membership tiers:
- 4Less Card: $7.99/bi-weekly
- Black Card: $9.99/bi-weekly
Given the low price difference, I’d suggest the Black Card membership, as it comes with added bonuses, including:
- Allow your friends and family to use your card when you’re not (great for couples and roommates)
- Access all 100+ Fit4Less locations (4Less Card only allows you to access one location)
- Access to the Black Card fitness area, with added free weights, better machines, and more space
- Free tanning
- Free massage chairs and hydro massage beds
The culture at Fit4Less is friendly to beginners and families. In other words, you don’t have to be a jacked-up fitness enthusiast to feel like you “fit in.”
You may not find as many advanced powerlifting racks and free weights as you would at bodybuilding gyms, but there’s enough equipment here to suit most people’s needs.
2. Econofitness
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 70+
- Cheapest Membership Option: $4.99 bi-weekly
- Contract Required: No
Econofitness is exclusively located in Quebec and is one of the biggest gyms in the province, with over 70 locations. In addition to being one of the most affordable gyms in Quebec, it also happens to be one of the cheapest gyms in Canada.
Members can sign up for a no-contract membership (paid bi-weekly) or can save by signing up for an annual membership. The membership tiers are:
- Weekend: $4.99/bi-weekly (gym access Thursday-Sunday only)
- Econo: $8.99/bi-weekly
- Platinum: $12.99/bi-weekly
- Extra: $18.99/bi-weekly
The standard Econo membership is the most popular, as it’s affordable and offers access to most of the gym’s amenities. Platinum members get access to massage chairs and can access any Econofitness location in Quebec, while Extra members get free access to group classes.
The ultra-cheap Weekend membership option is a good choice for busy workers and students who may only have time to hit the gym on the weekends. Otherwise, it’s a bit limited since it only allows you to visit the gym between Thursday and Sunday.
3. YMCA
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 1,000+
- Cheapest Membership Option: $33.09/bi-weekly
- Contract Required: No
The YMCA has over 1,000 locations across Canada.
While not every YMCA offers a gym, many locations do. The organization is as much a community centre as it is a gym, and your membership often gives you access to additional bonuses, such as:
- Free or low-cost classes
- Social clubs
- Low-cost childcare
YMCA gyms are often quite large and offer full swimming and gymnasium facilities in addition to a fitness centre. This is great for athletes who want the opportunity to swim, dive, or play sports as part of their fitness routine.
Although the individual $33.09/bi-weekly memberships aren’t the cheapest rates I’ve seen, the YMCA offers some great deals for families, couples, students, and youth, including:
- $18.71/bi-weekly for youth under 12
- $25/bi-weekly for students 13-17
- $49.99/bi-weekly for adult and senior couples
- $56.18/bi-weekly for households of four or more
- $28.09/bi-weekly for seniors over 60
Of these, I’d say the family membership is the best deal. Additionally, the YMCA has great after-school programs, and many locations offer free or low-cost childcare and athletic programs for children.
This can seriously offset the otherwise high cost of childcare in Canada and gives your children the opportunity to socialize outside of school.
4. GoodLife Fitness
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 450+
- Cheapest Membership Option: $35.99 bi-weekly
- Contract Required: No
GoodLife Fitness is one of the largest gyms in Canada, with over 450 locations spread throughout major cities and rural areas alike. With the base membership, you can access every GoodLife Fitness centre in the country, making it a great option for those who frequently travel or commute.
GoodLife Fitness offers three membership levels:
- Premium: $35.99/bi-weekly
- Ultimate: $39.99/bi-weekly
- Performance: $54.99/bi-weekly
Of these, I’d suggest the Ultimate membership, as it’s just $5 more than the Premium membership and comes with added perks, including:
- Hydro massages
- Access to mediation rooms
- Free towel service
- Free group fitness classes
- Free and low-cost family add-ons
- Free membership holds (which can be useful if you’re going on an extended vacation)
To be fair, GoodLife Fitness isn’t the cheapest gym in Canada. However, it offers many of the same benefits, classes, and equipment that $100+/month gyms offer, making it a great value for the money.
GoodLife Fitness also offers sign-up bonuses throughout the year, so you can get in at a reduced monthly rate or for a reduced sign-up fee (which is usually $49.99).
5. Gold’s Gym
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 10
- Cheapest Membership Option: Varies by location (typically around $15-20/bi-weekly)
- Contract Required: No
Gold’s Gym is a classic bodybuilding gym that originated on the coast of Southern California in the USA. Several famous bodybuilders, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno and Franco Columbu, frequented the original Gold’s Gym, which helped the franchise grow across North America.
Gold’s Gym is known first and foremost as a bodybuilding gym and features an incredibly wide variety of free weights, racks, and high-performance machines. That being said, you’ll also find some CrossFit areas and plenty of cardio equipment, depending on the location you visit.
Each Gold’s Gym location varies in its pricing, so I can’t tell you an exact number. However, the cheapest bi-weekly memberships typically range between $15 and $20, with premium memberships costing $25 to $35 bi-weekly.
Another nice thing about Gold’s Gym is that all locations offer a one-time free trial pass, so you can workout there and see if it’s the right place for you.
The only downside is that there are only 10 Gold’s Gym locations in Canada, most of which are in B.C. and Alberta.
6. Crunch Fitness
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 25+
- Cheapest Membership Option: $9.95 monthly (varies by location)
- Contract Required: No
Crunch Fitness recently expanded from the US into Canada and has a growing number of locations in Ontario and Quebec (and a recent opening in Calgary, AB). Like Gold’s Gym, Crunch Fitness memberships vary slightly depending on the club you sign up at.
Looking at one of the club’s most popular locations in North London, Ontario, there are three membership tiers:
- Base: $9.95/month
- Peak: $21.95/month
- Peak Results: $29.95/month
The Base membership only gives you access to your home club, while the Peak and Peak Results memberships give you access to all 372 clubs located throughout Canada and the US (great for those who frequently travel to the US on business).
Crunch Fitness locations are typically very spacious and offer ample equipment and machinery. Many also feature CrossFit areas, punching bags, and powerlifting racks, making it a great place for beginners and professional athletes.
7. LA Fitness
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 30+
- Cheapest Membership Option: $45.99 monthly
- Contract Required: No
LA Fitness recently expanded into Canada and offers a very similar experience to Crunch Fitness. While the membership is slightly more than Crunch, LA Fitness members can take advantage of some nice add-ons, including:
- An indoor pool
- Sauna
- Basketball court
- Group fitness classes
- Free personal training
- Towel service
There are two membership options:
- $45.99/month with a $99 sign-up fee
- $55.99/month with no sign-up fee
In the long term, the cheaper membership with the $99 sign-up fee is a better deal.
Aside from the YMCA, LA Fitness is one of the only large-scale gyms in Canada to offer both a swimming pool and basketball gym, which is the club’s main selling point.
Some locations even feature a juice/smoothie bar that offers discounted rates for members.
8. Anytime Fitness
- Number Of Gyms In Canada: 200+
- Cheapest Membership Option: $26 bi-weekly (varies by location)
- Contract Required: No
Anytime Fitness gyms tend to be a bit smaller than other gyms, but they’re very well-equipped and modern, which makes up for the reduced space. The key selling point of Anytime Fitness is that all of its locations are open 24/7.
After the pandemic, many previously 24-hour gyms cut their hours to reduce payroll and maintenance costs. If you work long day shifts, graveyard shifts, or like to get in a super-early-morning workout before 5 am, Anytime Fitness is one of the few gyms you can count on.
Additionally, all members have free access to the club’s coaches, who work with each member to help them create a fitness and nutrition routine that meets their goals. Of course, this is completely optional, but it’s a great bonus to have available.
Final Thoughts
The cheapest gym is, of course, your own home gym. However, going to the gym can help you stay consistent with your routine, expand your fitness goals, and can even help you network with other like-minded individuals.
Are you making a move soon? Check out my list of the 31 cheapest cities in Canada next!
