Remember your first date?

 

Half of single Americans say they are going on fewer dates or choosing less expensive activities because of rising costs, according to BMO’s 2026 survey. Gen Z adults spend an average of $205 per date, the survey says, making dating a meaningful share of annual income for young workers. The cost of dating itself is only part of the story. For millions of users, finding a date means paying for the apps.

Half of single Americans surveyed said they are going on fewer dates or choosing less expensive activities because of rising costs, according to BMO Financial Group’s 2026 BMO Real Financial Progress Index. The bank polled 2,501 adults in late December through January.

Not only that, but 48% of Gen Z adults and 40% of millennials surveyed said the high price of dating gets in the way of reaching their financial goals. A single date costs Gen Z adults $205 on average and millennials $252 on average.

That dynamic shows up in how young daters talk about first dates. 

 

David Kuang, a 21-year-old Columbia University student, said the economics of dating can make every outing feel like a gamble. “There’s such a higher chance that something doesn’t click,” he said. “And then there goes your $40 dinner bill down the drain on someone that you might never talk to again.” Leo Gabriel, a 22-year-old living in New York City, also said he tries to keep first dates affordable. “I would probably spend around $45 to $50,” he said. “It’s enough not to break the bank.” 

Overall, Gabriel said, he budgets around $150 to $200 a month for dating. “Why would I spend $100 on someone I might not even vibe with?” he added.