Should I fix my bent bike rim?

I just got a nice beach cruiser for a great price. The only thing wrong with it is the rear 26") rim is not straight - meaning when riding, sometimes it rubs on the brake pad with each rotation. it's not super bent, but noticeable if you watch it while the wheel is rotating.
My question is two fold: Is it best to take it to a shop and have the wheel 'straightened'? Or can it go indefinitely like this (with the only harm being embarrassment of the 'squeaky' noise.) And if so, does anyone know roughly what it would cost for them to straighten it?

Go to a bike shop and get a tune up. The basic package I found at 4 bike shops around town all included truing the wheel. I got my entire bike fixed up for $35. So in my case, spending an extra 20 bucks was worth gettin all the other stuff in working order

it sounds very truable to me. it isnt unusual for rims to lose true. usually you can retrue them fairly easily. if it is actually damaged you may need to replace it, but it doesnt sound like it from what you say.

If it's slightly out of true you can ride it. I would have it trued though, a rubbing brake will slow you down and wear out the pad. I haven't taken my bike in for a truing ever (I do my own) so I don't know current pricing for it. A guess would be $25 if it's a simple job. Call a couple shops for their price range. Labor charges vary quite a bit.

A quick true would only run you about $12, a whole new wheel would only be about $30. Go to the shop.

Get an estimate on having the wheel trued at a bike shop. If it is out of true, some spokes are too tight and/or some are too loose. If you have loose spokes, they are the most likely to break.

HTH