Why Do People Pay For Expensive Gyms?
It's the most pointless luxury good
You don’t “need” an expensive house, but the case for having one is clear: more space, a better location, a better school system, etc. You don’t “need” an expensive car, but there are at least some reasons for having one: faster, better sound system, impresses people, etc. You don’t “need” to go to a fancy expensive restaurant, but if you do, you get to eat much higher quality food. You don’t “need” an expensive haircut or clothes, but if you do, you’ll likely be much more physically attractive.
Most expensive things you can rationalize in one way or another. Gyms, though, I don’t see the case.
Equinox in Philadelphia is $230/mo. For that price, in addition to the standard free weights and cardio machines that every gym has, you get access to a steam room, a pool, a jacuzzi, heated yoga classes, private pilates, and a cold/hot plunge. In contrast, Retro Fitness is $30/mo, and anecdotally, I’ve seen plenty of people there in very good shape. Is a pool, steam room, jacuzzi, and heated yoga classes worth an extra $200/mo?
Maybe you can argue that the expensive gym’s free weights and machines are in better condition? Even if that is true, is that really worth $200/mo more when the fittest man in the world works out in this?
Maybe you can argue that you’ll go so frequently that the cost per visit really isn’t that bad. For instance, going 5 times a week makes Equinox only $11.5 per visit. But, with that logic, wouldn’t it still be better to pay the $1.5 per visit you’d pay at Retro?
Maybe you can argue that it will have machines and weights that other gyms don’t have. That could be true, but most of the results come from the fundamental lifts, so that auxiliary stuff doesn’t really move the needle. Again, I refer you to the above picture.
Maybe you think being a member of Equinox is a flex. There are two problems with this. One, it’s not like having a nice house or car that everybody can see. Nobody outside of Equinox can see you in Equinox. Two, the people in Equinox aren’t going to be impressed by you being in Equinox. It’d be like pulling up to Monaco with a nice car. Nobody cares.
Maybe you really want a clean pool, sauna, and cold plunge. In that case, I have no argument.
Other than that, though, if you’re thinking about joining an expensive gym, just go spend the money on some new clothes instead.