Prep Files 2.0 - The Cost of Competing
Anyone who knows anything about bodybuilding will tell you it’s an expensive sport. I follow a lot of competitors across various platforms, and last year one of them mentioned that her overall costs for doing 4 shows totaled about $30,000. That’s a car! That’s a down payment on a house! If you’re anything like me, you have to ask - why the FUCK is bodybuilding so expensive?
NPC competitor Bri Dempsey, who posted on TikTok about her $30k 2024 competition costs
One caveat I want to mention is that a lot of competitive sports are expensive, even at a very low level. People with kids probably know more about this than I do, but if your child plays hockey, you’re paying through the nose for team fees, equipment, travel costs, and maybe extra coaching. Bodybuilding is expensive, but I don’t think it’s uniquely expensive.
From my perspective, a lot of the costs associated with bodybuilding are, thankfully, optional. Below is a full breakdown of the typical costs of competing, and strategies for competing on a budget
NPC card: $150 per year
You must have an NPC card in order to compete, so this is a required expense
NPC cards are good for one calendar year, regardless of when you buy them; i.e., if I buy a card in 2025, it’s only good in 2025, even if I purchase it in December
Show fees/registration: $100-300+ per Class
Another required expense
The fee is per class, so if you compete in Open, Novice, and Masters, for example, you’ll pay the fee for each class
Regional shows are usually at the lower end of that range, while national level shows can end up being $250 or even a bit more
Gym membership: $30-$$$ per month
Not technically a requirement, but unless you’ve got a home gym it might be hard to get into competition shape without one
Some competitors have memberships at multiple gyms because of access needs
Groceries: $200-$$$ per month
Everyone needs to eat, although obviously food costs can vary WILDLY
I keep my costs down by mostly buying “whole” foods that I prepare myself, and I shop around for inexpensive options
The less work you want to do, the more you’ll have to spend - if you do some kind of meal prep delivery you can easily spend $1000+ per month
Supplements: $$?
The only supplements that I take are a daily multivitamin and creatine, so clearly I consider them optional, but I also can’t speak about them knowledgably
Research on most supps is sketchy at best, so I think it’s pretty goofy that people are shelling out hundreds for greens powder (maybe just eat some vegetables?), digestion aids, ashawaganda, and whatever else is trendy these days, but that’s just me
Bodywork: $100+ per session
I didn’t even know this was a thing until this year, but apparently a lot of competitors get weekly massages!
I’d put this one in the optional pile, as there are plenty of free methods of recovery, but I’d probably do it too if I had that kind of money
Coaching: $100-1000+ per month
Some people get multiple coaches for different aspects of their prep, so there are competitors who have a prep coach setting their protocols, a posing coach, and a personal trainer
I consider most coaching completely optional - if you don’t have a knowledge and you do have the money, sure, go nuts. But there’s so much fitness and nutrition content out there that anyone with half a brain and a shred of discipline could prep themselves for a show
Also, anyone can be a coach and take on clients, and as I mentioned in my last bodybuilding post, even some of the folks charging insanely high rates might literally kill you
One area where I did end up getting a coach this time around - posing. Posing is freaking HARD, and I need the help to get it right
Competition suit/bikini: $75-1000+
You do have to get a specific cut of suit, so unfortunately you can’t just grab a $15 bikini from Target
This is very DIYable, though! You can purchase a base suit and stone it yourself, which I did for my first show and am doing again! It is moderately time consuming, but so worth it for saving money
Heels: $30-150
Clear heels with a 3+ inch heel are required for most women’s divisions
I got an inexpensive pair off of Amazon that I dressed up with some crystals, but some brands are as much as $150
Midwest Gladiator, November 2024
NPC Card: $150
Show Fees: $125 x2
I did 2 classes, novice and open
Gym Membership: $40 per month
Groceries: $300~ per month
Supplements: $20
Bodywork: $0
Coaching: $0
Competition Suit: $200
This number is slightly misleading, as I bought one suit for $60 and fully stoned it for $30. I then decided I wanted a different color, so I bought another suit for $80 and stoned it for about $30. If I’d been more decisive I would have only spent about $100
Hair and Makeup: $15
I had to buy foundation and concealer in a darker color
Tanning: $50
Heels: $30
Photos: $90
Travel: $0
Total: $790-1130
The low end is if you only count my competition specific costs, while the higher number includes my groceries and gym membership
NPC Celsius Chicago Extravaganza, July 2025
NPC Card: $150
Show Fees: $140
I’m only doing one class this time
Gym Membership: $40 per month +$15x3
I’m seeing a posing coach (more on that below), so I’m paying for the occasional day pass at the gym where she does sessions
Groceries: $300~ per month
Supplements: $20
Bodywork: $120
I’ve been pushing things a bit harder during this prep, so I actually sprang for a massage recently to combat the soreness
Coaching: $50 per hour
I got a posing coach! There are all sorts of apps and services where you can get coaching on your posing, but I just emailed a local bodybuilding gym and asked if they had someone they recommend. I’ve had one session with Nikki so far, and I’m planning to go back for one or two more to make sure I’m ready for my show.
Competition Suit: $100
I totally could have worn one of my other suits, but I was dying to get a new one for this show. I can’t wait to finish stoning it! (Base suit purchased from LexiSuits via Etsy)
Hair and Makeup: $35
I’m doing my own makeup again (and still have the darker foundation left over from last time), but I did invest in a lace front wig so that my hair is long enough to cover my back.
Tanning: $40-140
I’m still on the fence about this one, but considering how my tan turned out last time, I might play it safe and have them do it for me this time. On the other hand, now I know what it’s supposed to look like, so I may just give it another go!
Heels: $0
Photos: $100~
I can’t actually find the pricing for the official photos, but I’m hoping it will be about what I paid last time.
Travel: $0
Total Costs: $915-1255
Even the way that I’m doing it, bodybuilding isn’t exactly cheap, but I’m proof that you don’t have to go into debt to do it either! With a little knowledge and willingness to take a risk, you can step on stage feeling proud that you built every inch of your “package” - isn’t that worth the effort?
