Study: The Financial Costs of Dating in 2024
A study of over 1,000 U.S. adults explores the financial burden that comes with dating, including how much the average person spends on a first date and how finances impact dating app success.
Conducted by credit builders Self Financial, this study explored the cost-related issues that singles encounter over the course of their dating journey.
Research found that the average person spends $58.84 per date, with men paying around $67.87 per date, while women pay around 20% less. More than half of respondents shared that they have asked for a refund or contribution after a bad first date.
Furthemore, 64% of respondents believe that spending more on a date will lead to a more successful relationship. However, nearly 68% said that they feel stressed about finances when organizing a date, with three-quarters opting for low-cost options this year.
Dating Costs
Nearly 50% of respondents said that a classic dinner date is their preferred way to develop a connection. When it comes to costs, the average person spends just over $50 per person on food and drink during a date.
When it comes to the expenses associated with looking your best, daters spend an average of $50.29 on clothes, beauty products, accessories and personal grooming before a date. Overall, 73% of people believe that dating is getting too costly.
Finance and Dating Apps
Wealth plays a significant role in the attraction that arises from dating apps, Self Financial’s study found. 71.8% of respondents admitted that they were more likely to match with someone who had visible signs of wealth on their dating profile.
Some ways to appear wealthy on a dating app profile include photos from fancy destinations, expensive restaurants, and featuring luxury clothing items, it shared.
Who Should Pay?
Over 60% of singles have had an argument over who will pay the bill. Instead of focusing on gender roles, the study looked to answer the question of ‘who pays?’ by looking at the financial situation of each participant.
44.1% of respondents agreed that whoever earns more should pay for a first date. The next most popular answer was splitting the bill equally, while only 20% said that the organiser of the date should be responsible for paying.