This is how much gym memberships will cost South Africans in 2026

As many return from the holiday season with New Year’s resolutions and plans to sign up to a gym, franchises across the country are adjusting their prices for 2026.

The fitness industry in South Africa has shown strong growth in recent years, prompted by an increased interest in health and wellness.

A market report by FIT Africa estimates that the fitness industry will reach a total revenue of $600 million by 2030, from $400 million in 2022. 

In September 2025, Statistics South Africa estimated that gym fees account for 5.9% of all household spending on recreation, sport and culture.

This percentage trumps money spent on pet food, toys, holidays, and books, and is second only to gambling, which accounts for 54.5%.

The national statistics organisation also recently reported that gym fees increased by 20.5% from October 2024 to October 2025. 

According to Gym Rat, the fitness industry has shown an impressive capacity for growth, and many gyms are capitalising on this potential. 

South Africa’s leading gym, Virgin Active, recently sent emails out to its customers, announcing a hike in gym fees. 

The gym franchise said the increase is so that it can “keep raising the bar on the quality, service and innovation” customers experience. It added that it has spent the last year upgrading its spaces and enhancing the gym’s digital experience.

Virgin Active is not the only gym upping its fees and its offerings in 2026. Here is a comparison of prices at South Africa’s biggest gym franchises: Virgin Active, Planet Fitness and Moove. 

Virgin Active

Virgin Active charges different fees for each of its gyms, ranging from smaller, more basic, cheaper facilities to its pricey Collection range of gyms.

Full gym memberships to one Virgin Active club cost between R600 and R1000, depending on the club, for a 12-month membership. 

Alternatively, customers can opt to take an off-peak membership and pay as low as R540 and only visit the gym during certain hours.

A Premier membership, which allows customers to access any gym in the country, outside of Virgin Active’s Collection brand, costs R1670 for a one-year membership.

This is a slight R100 increase from 2025, when the Premier membership cost R1,570.

The Collection gyms, which are Virgin Active’s luxury locations, cost between R3200 and R4,350. Signing up to Virgin Active also costs an additional once-off payment of R199.

Planet Fitness

Another significant South African fitness franchise, Planet Fitness, hit a milestone this year when it opened its 50th gym in August. 

The franchise plans to open five new clubs annually until 2030 to grow its presence and give all its customers access to a convenient location. 

A national membership to access all Planet Fitness branches in South Africa costs R1,500. Fees to join one Planet Fitness gym range between R400 and R900 per month for a 12-month membership, depending on the gym.

Planet Fitness has also opened its Just Gym brand – a simple gym product without any luxuries, which costs R200 to R300 monthly.

Moove

With 12 clubs nationwide, Moove is not as big as its competitors, but unlike its bigger competitors, Moove offers more flexibility.

Moove offers month-to-month contracts, so that customers don’t have to sign up for 12 or 24 months at once. 

Membership fees at Moove range from R150 to R700 per month for a 12-month contract at one Moove gym, depending on the location. 

Alternatively, customers can choose to purchase a Fit Pass instead. This allows guests to visit the gym for a once-off fee of R250, without committing to a contract.