US Economy is Putting Young People Off Dating

Rising prices and broader economic pressures are reshaping young Americans' appetite for romance, with date-night inflation forcing many to step back from the scene altogether.

According to the BMO Real Financial Progress Index, released in February, nearly half (47 percent) of singles in the U.S. say dating is no longer worth the price. This comes as the average "all-in" cost of a date has risen 12.5 percent from $168 in 2025 to now $189.

Separate research from the financial services firm JG Wentworth, based on a March survey of 1,538 U.S. adults, found that 86 percent have put off dating due to financial concerns, while 87 percent have gone as far as canceling a date due to cost pressures.

Why It Matters

The current situation, with high prices dissuading young, single Americans from even trying to find love, has created what the Institute for Family Studies recently labeled a "dating recession," one it warns could cut off social interaction for many and "depress future marriage rates."

And experts say the cost-driven decline serves as another sign of the K-shaped economy that has taken hold in the U.S., whereby different sectors or social groups recover at drastically different rates following a recession or economic downturn.

With more consumers facing affordability strains and cutting back as a result, dating has emerged as another activity that may be reserved for those with greater financial flexibility.

Why Aren't Young People Dating?

"With spending on dating outpacing inflation, singles can feel priced out of love," wrote Paul Dilda, Head of U.S. Consumer Strategy at BMO (Bank of Montreal). "Whether it's a long-term relationship or a first date, it has never been more challenging to ensure the path to love is also the path to real financial progress."

The bank gathered responses from 2,501 adults in December through January, finding that the financial toll of dating was impacting younger Americans particularly hard, with 50 percent of those in the Gen Z bracket saying dating would prevent them reaching their financial goals, compared to 40 percent of Millennials.

“Responses to the increasingly steep price of going out are leading to what looks like a K-shaped dating economy,” said Dilda. “At one end, people are slashing dating expenses entirely, either by skipping date night or by swapping the restaurant for a home-cooked meal and the movie tickets for popcorn on the couch. On the other, some are deciding an expensive date is worth the dent in their wallets.”

The National Dating Landscape Survey of 5,275 unmarried Americans aged 22–35 found that only 31 percent went on dates at least once a month. While confidence and time were cited as obstacles, finances emerged as the biggest barrier, with 52 percent saying they lacked the money to date more often.

These figures reflect the recent shift in macroeconomic conditions, as well as the steep rise in discretionary "date night" costs.

The latest Consumer Price Index report from the Department of Labor showed that the costs of food away from home have climbed 3.8 percent over the 12 months which ended March, outpacing broader inflation of 3.3 percent, and are now up around 40 percent since early 2019, per S&P Global.

And JG Wentworth found that the cost of meals and drinks had caused 76 percent of prospective daters stress, as had those of dating app subscriptions (72 percent), transportation (67 percent), clothing or "appearance-related" costs (54 percent) and the potential price of activities or events (40 percent).

These pressures span consumers across the economy, but the impact has been particularly acute for younger Americans, facing outsized strains from inflation and a slowdown in the labor market.

In the latest Harvard Youth Poll, which surveyed 2,018 18-29-year-olds in February and March, 45 percent reported some level of financial vulnerability, rising to 57 percent among nonstudents without a degree.

What Happens Next

Beyond dating, younger Americans are cutting back on discretionary spending in other areas, such as vacations, or delaying major milestones such as marriage and homeownership.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 9:06 AM.