The price of love

Our research reveals that a typical singleton goes on an average of 24 dates with at least nine different people before they find the one, spending an average of £42.37 a date – totalling £1,017 in their search for love.

And young people spend considerably larger amounts to find their perfect partner, as respondents aged 16-24 said they spend 38% more than those over 55. 

If you are planning on going all out on your next date, you could consider a 0% interest credit card to spread the cost. 

An ‘appy relationship

Analysis of the latest reports from Statista on dating app usage shows it’s not just the cost of the dates themselves that contribute to the price of finding love, with the number of paid users on dating apps increasing by a colossal 75% between 2017 and 2022. This outstrips the growth in the general number of dating app users in the UK, which has increased by 31% over the same period.

Given the high costs involved, many are keen to cut corners, with 15% of Brits searching for discount vouchers ahead of their dates. However, others are going to even further lengths to save their money as 15% reveal they’ve been forced to pay the whole bill for a date that has rather conveniently ‘forgotten their wallet’.

Brits’ most common experiences whilst paying the bill on a date

Keeping it local

Despite an upward trend in people willing to pay more money in the search for love, our data shows Brits aren’t willing to spend more time – as almost one in five (17%) won’t travel more than 20 minutes for a date.

Brits are racking up quite the tab at dating hotspots though – despite the average singleton dating nine different people before finding a partner, 1% of the population have had to kiss at least 70 frogs before settling down. 

Brits’ attitudes towards splitting the bill 

Despite changing world views towards splitting the bill, 12% of men say they would still get offended if their date offered to pay, and three quarters of men say their views on bill paying haven’t wavered over time.

We know that dating can be an exciting and thrilling experience, but it can also be a time of nervousness and worry. As the cost of living continues to rise, singletons may be feeling the financial strain of dating more than ever.

But with almost a quarter (21%) of Brits saying they spend money on first dates in the hope it’ll lead to a second, it’s clear that finding a partner ranks higher in importance. Finding love shouldn’t have to put anyone in the red and there’s no reason to splash the cash in order to impress someone. Whether it’s a date at a swanky hotel or a walk in the park, connections are formed on a lot more than your surroundings.

If you are worried about the affordability of dating, there are a range of credit card options available that can help you save money here.