This U.S. City Is The Most Expensive to Date In

You can’t put a price on true love, but finding it is a different story. From grabbing a cup of coffee to going out to a casual dinner, even a cheap date can cost more than you’d like.

As of 2025, Americans spend an average of $2,279 on dating each year—Gen Z and millennials reported spending the most, splurging more than $190 per date night. Another Deutsche Bank report found that New York was the most expensive city in the U.S. for dating.

As the cost of finding love continues to rise, singles and couples may want to reconsider their date night plans.

What the Cheap Date Index Reveals

According to Deutsche Bank’s Cheap Date Index, New York City is officially the most expensive U.S. city for dating. The index calculates the cost of a standardized date by including a bottle of wine, dinner for two, a tax ride, clothing, and two movie tickets, transit fares, and coffees.

And as New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the U.S., even modest romantic gestures can feel like luxury expenses. This further adds to the financial pressure, making dating in the city even more unaffordable.

Rethinking Romance on a Realistic Budget

“There’s such a diversity of spending habits in high-cost cities like New York,” says Blaine Anderson, matchmaker and dating coach at DatingbyBlaine. “The key to dating is just understanding what your budget is—not what you can afford, so much as what you feel comfortable spending—and resisting the temptation to go outside of that to impress anybody.”

In a world where dating is often filtered through curated Instagram posts and TikTok trends, it’s easy to forget that a real connection doesn’t require a budget. The pressure to impress with flashy dinners and luxury gifts can distract from what actually matters: compatibility, conversation, and shared values. Rethinking romance means letting go of performative dating and embracing experiences that feel genuine, not just impressive online.

“If you were only judging based on what you see on TikTok, you might conclude that date inflation is outpacing cost-of-living inflation,” Anderson says. “I think many singles are becoming less impressed by fancy first dates and grand gestures out of fatigue.”

First dates are sometimes seen as make-or-break moments, and that can lead people to spend more time, money, and energy than the situation calls for. But going all out early on doesn’t necessarily lead to better outcomes.

“I actually recommend not spending much on a first date to coaching clients. You don’t even know if you’ll like the person, and fancy dates can give the wrong impression,” Anderson said. “Dating is hard, and a bad first date is never fun, but a bad first date over a three-hour meal at a stuffy restaurant is even worse.” 

Budget-Friendly Date Ideas

If you’re trying to spark romance without burning through your paycheck, you’ll have to get creative.

Anderson recommends walking dates as an affordable way to get to know someone on a first date. “The key to planning a good walking date is putting thought into the route,” Anderson says. “A walk through a scenic part of the best local park makes for a great date. A walk through Skid Row doesn’t.”

Be honest with your date or partner about budgets, and don’t hesitate to take turns paying or splitting costs. You can further decrease the cost of your dates by scheduling them during off-peak times—like happy hours or matinees—when lower prices and discounts are available. Aim for a date that is enjoyable, thoughtful, and within your budget.

Here are some ideas to consider:

• Visit a bookstore: Check out your favorite sections and choose a book for each other.
• Go to a free museum: Museums and galleries offer pay-what-you-can days or free admission on certain days of the year.
• Have a cook-off: Choose a recipe and gather your ingredients, but turn it into a fun competition, or at least a playful way to bond.
• Attend a street fair or farmers market: Explore food vendors, music, and art, and pick out a small surprise for each other.
• Volunteer: Bond while giving back by helping out at a food pantry or animal shelter.

The Bottom Line

Dating might be getting more expensive, but that doesn’t mean you need to put your love life on hold. Regardless of where you live, you don’t need to splurge to find love. With a little creativity and planning, you can enjoy thoughtful, affordable experiences without draining your bank account.