Getting a Big Apple dream body takes a bite out of your budget.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to new data about the most expensive American cities to stay active. New City is ranked as number three.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no surprise given New York\u2019s exorbitant costs of living<\/a>, much less living well. Be it a $15,000 membership to NYC\u2019s ultra luxe label supermarket<\/a>, a $15,000 liposuction procedure<\/a>, or a $100,000 access fee to Manhattan\u2019s most exclusive wellness club<\/a>, eating clean and looking strong comes at a premium.<\/p>\n NYC ranks in the top three most expensive US cities for staying active and eating healthy, according to a new study. BGStock72 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n \u201cNew York is already an expensive place to live, so it\u2019s not surprising to see fitness costs stack up quickly here,\u201d said Carl Borg, founder of Bespoke Fit, an online\u00a0personal training platform<\/a>. \u201cWhat stands out is that the basics alone, such as gym access, healthier groceries, protein shakes, and replacing running shoes come to nearly $394 a month.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s yet another big bill atop the mountainous cost of calling the concrete jungle home.\u00a0<\/p>\n From landlords demanding roughly\u00a0$5,125 in monthly rental charges\u00a0<\/a>to the\u00a0$19,500 \u201csingles tax\u201d\u00a0<\/a>unmarried Gothamites pay just to cover their annual overhead, it\u2019s tough for most city dwellers to afford a premium gym membership and\u00a0celebrity-endorsed fruit shakes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lofty gym memberships and pricey protein shakes are to blame, in part, for the nealy $400 monthly cost of staying active in NYC. Andrey Popov \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n While New York City took the bronze medal in the top 3 roundup of most expensive cities for staying active, two California-based locales secured the gold and silver trophies.\u00a0<\/p>\n San Francisco ranked first in the running thanks to its $427 monthly fitness costs. Another Golden State city, San Jose, landed the second place spot on the podium, boasting an average monthly fitness cost of $412.\u00a0<\/p>\n To calculate the literal sweat equity in each city, experts compared four common fitness-related expenses for a single active adult: gym membership, a seven-item healthy food basket, 12 protein shakes per month, and the annual cost of one pair of running shoes.\u00a0<\/p>\n But the investigators didn\u2019t account for expensive exercise and dieting extras \u2014 such as specialized workout classes like pilates, app fees, gym gear like yoga mats and cycling shoes, and accessories like grip socks \u2014 which often inflate fitness costs.<\/p>\n San Francisco takes the crown as the most expensive city in which to stay fit, per the findings. Joshua Resnick \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that New Yorkers get more free exercise than the average American: In 2024, the New York City Department of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Mental Hygiene reported that the average Gothamite walks 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day \u2014 nearly thee times the national average. <\/p>\n But sadly, sprinting for the 2 train\u00a0during one\u2019s daily commute<\/a> isn\u2019t sufficient when it comes to leading a healthy and active lifestyle.\u00a0In fact, trending research finds that adults should get\u00a0between<\/a> 560 and 610 minutes\u00a0<\/a>\u2014 approximately 10 hours \u2014 of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.\u00a0<\/p>\n