ReZoom

Whether you're looking for a bargain or a decadent treat, find out what you could be paying for that next massage or body wrap.We all like to be pampered, but we also all have to be aware of our budgets. Whether you're looking for a bargain or a decadent treat, hopefully these numbers can help you understand what prices to expect for skin and body treatments and guide your choices in choosing a spa that meets your needs.

A 2004 survey conducted by Day Spa magazine, and published as "Pricing Right" by Linda W. Lewis in July of that year, lists the average prices for standard day spa treatments as follows:
Basic manicure: $20.53
Basic pedicure: $37.74
60 minute Swedish massage: $62.58
50 to 60 minute European facial: $62.80
Cellulite wrap: $77.89
Moisture wrap: $73.37
Body polish: $60.81
Brow wax: $14.16

Day Spa magazine also found that the biggest factor in treatment price was location. "While there was a significant difference between prices on the West Coast compared to those in the Great Lakes states, there was an even greater difference between prices in metropolitan areas and those in mid-size cities and small towns," according to the article.

As common sense would tell you, you're going to pay a lot more for a facial in Manhattan than you would in Richmond. However, if you're like me, these prices seem a little on the low side to you. (I'd love to be able to pay just over 60 dollars for an hour long massage.)

A factor possibly contributing to the economy of these prices is the size of the survey group. This survey was conducted by polling 500 day spas throughout the country. This number is by no means a small sample, but when you consider the fact that the International SPA Association reported 11, 736 U.S. day spas in 2007, 500 represents just over four percent of all day spas.

While the Day Spa report seems optimistic about spa prices, Anitra Brown's roundup of average treatment costs for About.com might scare away the potential spa-goers. Her list encompasses the possible range of prices you could pay:
Manicure: $25.00 - $35.00
Pedicure: $45.00 - $55.00
60 minute Swedish massage: $75.00 - $90.00
60 minute European facial: $70.00 - $90.00
Specialty Massage: $115.00 - $125.00

The most striking discrepancy between these lists seems to involve the costs of facials and massages. If most facials cost between 70 and 90 dollars, as Brown would have you believe, you have to wonder how it's possible for Day Spa's average price to come in at $62.80.

The International SPA Assocation also keeps track of average spa prices, but their numbers take all spas into account, not just day spas. Here's what they have to say:
Massage: $76.00
Facial: $80.00
Average Treatment: $75.00

All in all, a variety of factors from the size of a spa to its location as well whether it's independently owned or part of a chain are going to affect its pricing. The key to not paying an arm and a leg, like always, is comparison shopping. Investigate rates in and around your home. Maybe it is worth it to drive an extra twenty minutes to a smaller suburb with lower prices, or maybe you're willing to pay for the convenience of getting a facial on your lunch break.

As a savvy consumer, you know when to splurge on a pair of Ferragamos and when to shop at Payless, and the same philosophy applies here. With spas, as with all else, remember to shop around.