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Dating Expenses Surge Past Overall Inflation, Survey Finds

The average American date now costs $189 when accounting for transportation, grooming and the activity itself, according to BMO Financial Group's 2026 Real Financial Progress Index. Millennials face the steepest dating expenses at $252 per outing, up significantly from $191 the previous year. Gen Z averages $205, while Gen X spends $173 and Baby Boomers $126. The rising costs are reshaping consumer behavior. Half of Americans who date report either reducing their dating frequency or selecting less expensive activities to manage expenses. The survey polled 2,501 adults between late December and January.