I'm not sure what "average" is, but I pay $40/month for a membership at the local LA Fitness. That includes access to the pool, treadmills, weight machines, etc. I don't remember if there was a startup cost. There usually is, but I think they might have waived it because they were the new kids on the block.
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For health clubs with pools in downtown Chicago (Fitness Formula, Equinox, New York Club, Lakeshore Athletic, Bally, Holmes Place), monthly fee is typically $125-$140 per month, on top of an "initiation fee," which might be as much as $300. The East Bank Club is maybe double that.
I swim at a hotel pool that is about $92 a month.
UIC has community memberships for ca. $900 per year plus initiation fee.
Lake Michigan is free, although it's $50-$70 if you are arrested and fined by the Court for swimming where there is no lifeguard. OK, one year the Park District put a lifeguard out there and arrested people who went in the water, period. :p
$1,000 per year at Asphalt Green AquaCenter, NYC.
nyswimmer, I heard that Asphalt Green has olympic sized pool, but in fact most of the time (or all?) only 25 meter is open for lap swim? Could you confirm this? Also do they use chlorine or ozone for disinfection? Thanks.
about 30$ a month for a college student at the YMCA near my college, 45 for non students, Includes pool gym, nautilis, (hot tub, sauna, steam room, and hot room, tv couch and vending machines .... all in the locker room) free weights indoor track batting cages(time in them may be extra) basketball courts racketball, spinning, and a few other things but i have not seen the entire building even after goign there for 6 years.... lol.
My limited experience is that the 'pool' at most health clubs of the Bally's, etc. tier are nasty and to be avoided. Insanely heavy chlorine, way to hot to swim more than a couple hundred yards/meters, etc.
