Acrylic nails feel cheap one visit at a time, but the fills add up. The real question is what a full year costs once you account for the new set, the fills every couple of weeks, the tip, and the occasional soak-off.
The short answer
Plan on roughly $500–$800 a year for salon acrylics. Maintenance alone (fills every 3 weeks at about $30) runs near $520, and you cross $700 once you add a fresh full set and the odd repair. With a typical 20% tip and biweekly fills, the default scenario lands close to $787 a year.
Where the money goes
A full set is about $30–$60, but it is a once-a-year cost - the fills carry the rest of the calendar. At $20–$40 every 2–3 weeks, fills are the single biggest line item, which is exactly why stretching your fill schedule by even half a week noticeably lowers your annual total.
How to spend less
Two levers move the number most: going longer between fills, and skipping the salon for some refreshes. An at-home kit at about $2–$3 per manicure turns a $700+ year into roughly $112, and the kit pays for itself after about two salon visits. Run your own prices through the calculator to see your exact yearly figure.