Daters are astonished by the high prices of wining and
dining a romantic interest with inflation at its highest rate
in over 40 years. The consumer price index category for
food away from home rose 7.7% in June 2022 from a year
earlier, while full-service restaurants climbed 8.9%. For those
testing the waters with a cocktail or two, prices for alcoholic
beverages rose by 4%.
Those searching for love say they’re feeling the pain.
Among 3,000 users on the popular dating app Hinge, almost
41% said they were more concerned with the cost of dates
now versus a year ago, with Generation Z respondents more
likely to feel the pressure. Emily Derby, a 27-year-old in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, said her dating costs have doubled from $200 to
$400 a month.
As costs escalate, some singles are scaling back and
being more selective about the dates they’re going on, while
others are pausing their search for “the one” entirely. On dating
site OKCupid, 34% of 70,000 users reported that inflation was
impacting their love life.
“In the fall of 2020, I was going on dates left and right
not really thinking about the costs,” said Seth Rosenberg, a
25-year-old in Philadelphia. “Now, it’s harder to be excited
because if a date goes bad, you’re out anywhere from $50
to $100.”
Those still in the dating game have both love and money
on the mind. New York City-based dating coach Amy Nobile
said even her wealthy clients, many of whom pay $15,000 for
a four-month program, are trying to cut their dating costs in
half. Clients who would typically spend as much as $150 on a
date are seeing if they can get away with $75 or less.
“People are feeling rising prices,” she said. “For those in
the long game to find a partner, they feel like they really need
to monitor their money flow in the dating world.” As a result,
people are on the hunt for less expensive options, said Logan
Ury, director of relationship science at Hinge.