Some young Americans scale back dating as costs and apps add pressure, survey shows

For many young Americans, dating is becoming as much about finances as it is romance. Half of single Americans surveyed said they are going on fewer dates or choosing less expensive activities because of rising costs, according to BMO Financial Group's 2026 BMO Real Financial Progress Index . The bank polled 2,501 adults in late December through January. Not only that, but 48% of Gen Z adults and 40% of millennials surveyed said the high price of dating gets in the way of reaching their financial goals. A single date costs Gen Z adults $205 on average and millennials $252 on average, BMO found. Nearly half of singles, 47%, said dating just isn't worth the expense, according to the survey. It's just one affordability pressure among many these days. Consumers are grappling with higher costs for everyday essentials such as gas , groceries , housing and health insurance — reflecting a mix of factors including energy shocks tied to the ongoing war with Iran and President Donald Trump's tariff policies. "We're seeing that there is this increased cost of living, and it's lowering our dating frequency and how we're seeing or perceiving dating," Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist, told CNBC. "We're seeing people have fewer dinners out and there's a lower tolerance for higher-risk meetups." Costs make people date 'defensively' For Gen Z, the cost of dating can add up quickly. The typical Gen Z American went on about nine dates in the prior year, according to BMO's data. …