Whether you’ve been romantically involved for decades or you’re single and on the search for someone to settle down with, dating is a part of life for many of us. Relationship status aside, date nights have gotten more expensive, just like everything else, and new research reveals just how much people are spending on them now.
According to a Bank of Montreal survey, the cost of an average date has soared to $189. That’s a jump of 12.5% from last year’s total of $168, which means “date-flation” is outpacing the overall cost of living. Over the past year, Americans spent an average of $2,323 on dates.
- But as the cost of dates continues to climb, it has some daters rethinking their behavior. Half say they’ve gone on fewer dates or planned less expensive activities.
- Just 14% of those surveyed say the average date costs them nothing, but the same number (14%) say a typical date costs them $300 or more.
- On average, Americans who dated went on about 12 over the last year, down from an average of 14 in 2025.
- Nearly half (47%) of singles say dating just isn’t financially worth it anymore.
- And half of Gen Z (50%) and 40% of millennials admit the cost of dating gets in the way of reaching their financial goals.
- As dates have gotten more expensive, who’s picking up the tab? There’s still a gender divide over who should pay in a budding relationship. Over two-thirds (71%) of men expect to pay for everything on a date early in a romance, while 52% of women expect to split it.
- Almost two-thirds of those in serious relationships (65%) try to divide date costs evenly.
- The research suggests that being open about money can help couples better manage dating costs. And two-thirds (66%) of respondents say they’re always honest about their finances with their romantic partners.
Source: Traders Union