It was bound to happen. Seeing how the Canadian economy is a disaster and the government continues to make it worse, dating has become another cost-of-living problem. Dating used to be stressful enough without having to treat it like a budget category. Now, for many Canadians, even a simple date can feel expensive. Coffee, drinks, dinner, transportation, parking, an Uber, tickets, grooming, clothes, and the awkward question of who pays can all add up quickly.
That doesn’t mean Canadians have stopped wanting romance. They certainly do want to have a significant other in their lives. Rather, it means that more people are thinking twice before spending money on a date that may go nowhere.
In 2025, a BMO survey found that 56% of Canadians said the rising cost of living was affecting dating, with many going on fewer dates or choosing less expensive activities. BMO also estimated that the cost of finding love could add up to $3,621 before a relationship becomes official. That’s $3,621 after tax money, meaning you probably have to make around $7,000, give half to the government by way of the incessant implementation of taxes, and only then will you have that left over money to spend on a date.
The Average Date Is Not Cheap
By 2026, the numbers looked even more direct. A BMO report found that Canadians spend an average of $174 per date. It also found that half of singles were either dating less or planning more affordable dates, and one third had changed plans for financial reasons. The same report said 55% of singles had not been on a date in the past year. That is a lot of pressure for something that’s supposed to be fun.
A date doesn’t have to be fancy to cost money. Even a low-key night can become expensive once you include transportation and food. For younger people, renters, students, single parents, or anyone already stretched by groceries and housing, dating can start to feel like a luxury.
Fewer Dates, Cheaper Dates, More Thinking
TD found a similar pattern in 2026, reporting that one in three Canadians were going on fewer dates because of economic conditions. The same survey found that 36% of Gen Z respondents were choosing less expensive dates, higher than the national average of 29%. That may be one of the biggest shifts in modern dating.
People are asking themselves, “Do I like this person?” Yes, that’s as it should be. But they are now also asking, “Is this date worth the time and money?” That question may sound unromantic, but it’s realistic given these economic times. Like, people are actually putting a price on the person they date, their emotions, and the most likely outcome of the investment. Sure, return on investment has always been a thing in dating. I’m not naive to that. But these days, it’s on another level.
If a first date costs real money and the last few went nowhere, people become more selective. They may suggest coffee instead of dinner. They may choose a walk, park, free event, or a casual drink instead of a full night out. They may also spend more time deciding whether someone is worth meeting in person. How crazy is that?! Until recently, even if someone was on the fence about setting up a date due to uncertainty, now they are leaning toward not meeting at all because of the economic factors.
Dating Apps Don’t Remove the Cost
Dating apps can make meeting people easier, but they don’t make dating free. Some people pay for premium app features. Others pay in time, attention, and frustration. Then, once a match becomes a real-life date, the usual costs return. That makes app dating feel especially draining. You might spend days messaging someone, finally meet, pay for a date, and realize within 20 minutes that there is no chemistry. Do that enough times and it’s easy to understand why people take breaks. Add to this the fact that most men on dating apps are now almost entirely ignored. So all that effort and even if they start chatting, they’re likely to get ghosted and the whole thing goes nowhere.
Cheap Dates Are Not Necessarily Bad Dates
The upside is that expensive dates are not always better dates. Gold diggers, superficiality, and disingenuous people aside, cheaper dates can be just as worthwhile. A walk, coffee, ice cream, a picnic, a free festival, a museum discount night, or a casual drink can reveal more than an expensive dinner. A cheaper date can also reduce pressure, which may make the whole thing feel more natural.
In some ways, the cost-of-dating problem may push people toward better first dates. Less performance, showing off, and pressure to turn a stranger into a major evening.
Money Also Reveals Compatibility
Dating costs reveal how people think about money, not just the price of dinner. Do they expect the other person to pay? Do they split? Do they suggest something reasonable? Do they respect someone’s budget? Do they act offended if the date is simple? A simple date can make it easier to focus on the actual person. If you’re really interested in someone and not just out for a free meal or expect to be entertained to show off what you got out of the date to your friends and on social media, you’re probably not worth dating anyways.
These things matter because money becomes a real issue in relationships too. BMO’s 2025 survey found that one third of couples said spending was a source of conflict in their relationship. A person’s attitude toward dating costs can give you an early glimpse of how they handle expectations, fairness, and pressure.
Early Honesty
If dating is getting more expensive, people may need to be more honest earlier. That means being “normal” about the budget. You don’t have to turn a first date into a financial planning session. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Let’s just grab coffee,” or “I’m keeping things low-key this week,” or “Want to go for a walk and get something after?” The right person will not make that weird. In fact, many people may appreciate it.
Dating Less May Be a Rational Choice
When people say Canadians are dating less, it can sound like a cultural failure. But when you look at the cost, it also looks like a rational response. If everything is more expensive, people naturally become more careful. They cut back on restaurants, entertainment, travel, shopping, and sadly, dating. TD’s broader 2026 spending survey found that Canadians were planning major cutbacks, including eating out less often and spending less on entertainment. Dating is part of that same economy.
People still want connection, romance, and some fun. They just may not want to spend $174 to find out someone “isn’t sure what they’re looking for.” In reality, they general know what they’re looking for, and it’s possibly not you, if they make a statement like that. So putting your hard-earned money toward that possible scenario isn’t particularly tempting to increasingly more people (guys, mostly, since they usually pay).
The Cost of Dating Is Changing the Culture
The cost of dating in Canada is going beyond just being a personal finance issue. It’s changing how people meet, how often they go out, and how quickly they decide whether someone is worth their energy. This all may sound discouraging, but it doesn’t have to be. If dating becomes less about expensive performances and more about real compatibility, that could be a good thing. A cheaper date isn’t a lesser one. A simple plan doesn’t equate to a lack of effort. And being mindful with money actually means being more responsible, not that someone is unromantic. It may just mean they’re realistic. In this economy, that might be exactly what dating (unfortunately) needs.
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