Rising Costs Are Making Modern Dating Increasingly Inaccessible

Mon, 04 May 2026 20:45:00 +0200

The article argues that while dating apps are often blamed for modern dating frustrations, the deeper issue in 2026 is economic: many people simply cannot afford to date. Surveys show that financial pressure is reshaping romantic behavior across the United States. According to recent data, 86 percent of singles have delayed or avoided dating due to money concerns. At the same time, the average cost of a date has risen sharply—about 12.5 percent in 2026—reaching roughly $189 per outing, a pace that exceeds general inflation.

This phenomenon, sometimes called “date-flation,” is hitting lower-income individuals the hardest. One-third of people earning under $50,000 report stopping dating entirely, compared to a much smaller share of higher earners. As a result, dating is becoming less spontaneous and more deliberate, often requiring budgeting and trade-offs. Financial analyst Farnoosh Torabi describes this shift as a move from organic connection to calculated decision-making, which risks