30% of Australian Singles Skip Dating to Save Money as Costs Push Average Date to $91
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance Australia · Aug 2
30% of Australian Singles Skip Dating to Save Money as Costs Push Average Date to $91
1 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance Australia · Aug 2
Summary
30% of Australian singles are avoiding dating to save money, while 68% say they have not gone on a single date since the start of 2026, according to ING research.
ING said the pullback reflects a "romance recession" in which savings goals and financial compatibility are overtaking attraction as cost-of-living pressure squeezes discretionary spending.
$91 is the average amount Australians spend per date on food, drinks, transport and activities, plus pre-date costs such as clothes and grooming, adding up to more than $1.3 billion nationally this year.
Singles like 23-year-old Sydney worker Marlin Bowring say dating has taken a back seat to travel savings and longer-term goals such as buying a home because meals, drinks and Ubers add up quickly.
Jirsch Sutherland said the same "date-night economics" is hitting the wider economy, with households prioritizing essentials like rent, mortgages and groceries and leaving small businesses exposed to weaker dining and entertainment demand.