Dating in the U.S. is becoming a significant financial obligation, with the average date costing $189, pushing annual spending to $2,323 for active singles. This shift is forcing many people to consider whether dating fits into their financial priorities. The typical all-in cost of a date reached $189 in 2026, a 12.5% increase from $168 a year earlier, and each outing now represents a significant share of disposable income. Nearly half of single Americans (47%) said dating was not financially worth the investment. Millennials and Gen Z are experiencing the most significant increases in dating costs, with Gen Z respondents reporting spending an average of $252 per date, a 32% rise from the previous year. The BMO survey also revealed a split in how Americans are responding to expensive romance, with 14% saying a typical date costs nothing, up from 12%, and 14% spending $300 or more per outing.