A BMO financial study found that average dating costs for millennials have reached $252 per date as inflation and lifestyle expectations push up the price of romance in what experts call date-flation across major urban dating markets.
Researchers surveyed spending on dinners, drinks, entertainment, and transportation, concluding that courtship budgets now resemble small luxury purchases for many urban professionals. Rising restaurant tabs and ticket prices accounted for much of the increase year over year.
Experts quoted in coverage say social media aesthetics and experience-driven dates encourage higher spending even when household finances are tight. Millennials report feeling pressure to curate memorable outings that photograph well for online sharing among peers.
BMO analysts compare current averages with pre-inflation baselines to show how quickly dating economics shifted after pandemic reopening and cost-of-living spikes. Some respondents said they reduce date frequency rather than cut per-outing spending on restaurants and events.
Financial planners suggest transparent budgeting conversations early in relationships to avoid debt-driven impressiveness. The study does not prescribe cheaper dates but documents how commercialized romance norms interact with broader consumer price trends affecting young adults.
The BMO study put a dollar figure on date-flation, reporting that millennials now spend $252 per date on average as inflation and lifestyle expectations reshape how couples allocate disposable income toward courtship.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/