Photos and Dating
How Much Does Dating Cost? A Realistic Budget for Women in 2026
How much does dating cost? More than most women expect, mostly because of getting ready, not the date itself. An Australian survey found people spend about $149 on a first date but $522 getting ready for it, on clothes, gifts, and beauty treatments. With more people splitting the bill, a realistic budget helps you date without debt.
What surveys show
Australia (Finder, December 2025). A survey of 1,006 Australians found people spent about AU$149 on the date itself, plus about AU$522 getting ready, including clothes and shoes (AU$196), gifts (AU$174), and beauty treatments (AU$152). 44% think the bill should be split evenly; 39% think the person who asked should pay. [1] Finder is a comparison company that sells financial products, so this is company-sponsored.
Canada (Simplii Financial). The Globe and Mail reported a Simplii survey of 1,500 Canadians: 47% of women preferred to split the bill, compared with 23% of men, while 39% of women said they would expect their date to pay. [2] Simplii is a bank, so this is also company-sponsored.
Put simply: more women are paying their share, and getting ready is where the money disappears.
Where the money goes (original breakdown)
| Category | Easy to overspend on | |---|---| | Outfits | New outfit for each first date | | Beauty | Blowouts, nails, lashes, brows | | Transport | Rideshares both ways | | The date | Drinks, dinner, tickets | | Apps | Subscriptions and boosts | | Gifts | Early gifts that feel expected |
A realistic monthly budget (original)
Pick a number that fits your income. Example for a moderate budget:
- Dates: 4 dates at about $30 each = $120
- Transport: $40
- Beauty: $40 (one service, the rest at home)
- Clothes: $30 (one item, or $0 if rewearing)
- Apps: $0 to $30
Total: about $230 to $260 a month. Adjust up or down.
Cheaper swaps that don't feel cheap
- Coffee or a walk for first dates instead of dinner
- Daytime dates: markets, parks, free museum days
- Rewear your best outfit. He has not seen it.
- At-home nails and blowouts for most dates
- Public transport or driving when safe
- Free app tiers before paying
The safety money you shouldn't cut
- Enough to get yourself home anytime
- Some cash or a card for your share, so you can leave when you want
- A charged phone
Talking about money while dating (original scripts)
- "I'm saving for a trip, so I'm into low-key dates right now. Coffee?"
- "Let's split it."
- "Next one's on me."
Being upfront early is normal, and it helps you find someone with similar values.
Getting ready on a budget (original)
- Build a two-outfit "date uniform" you love and rotate it.
- Learn one easy hairstyle and one quick makeup look.
- Do nails at home with a long-wear polish.
- Save salon services for dates that matter to you, like a third or fourth date.
You will feel just as put-together and save most of that getting-ready cost.
Watch for money red flags
- Expecting you to pay for expensive plans he chose
- Pressure to buy gifts early
- Asking to borrow money
- "Forgetting" his wallet repeatedly
Never send money to someone you met online and have not known well in person.
Track it for a month (original)
Write down every dating-related spend for 30 days. Many women find the surprise is beauty and outfits, not dinners. Then decide which spending actually makes you feel good and cut the rest.
Quick answers
Should I pay for half on every date? Offering is polite. Many couples settle into a rhythm, like alternating.
Are dating app subscriptions worth it? Sometimes. Try the free version for a month first.
Is it shallow to budget for beauty? No. It is your money. Just make it a choice, not an automatic expense.
The bottom line
The date itself is often the cheap part. Getting ready, transport, and apps add up fast. Set a monthly number, use low-cost date ideas, rewear outfits, and keep enough money to pay your share and get home.