Dating is a rich person’s game now

Just ask about Anyone what’s wrong with talking Dating They’ll likely tell you the same thing: apps suck. They are built on a pay-to-win model. Fewer people are finding good partners. some studies They even suggested that increased time spent on these matters leads to increased depression and anxiety while also contributing to feelings of loneliness Among men. Finally, the quest to find love through swiping has created a generation of jaded, sexless Singles don’t trust dating apps.

but Dating apps It’s not the only problem, at least not the main problem anymore. According to recent research, the cost of dating in 2026 has surpassed that of the average single person, and the gap between who can afford to date is wider than ever.

An overwhelming majority of U.S. singles (86%) say financial concerns have led them to delay dating or return to the dating pool again, according to one study. reconnaissance It was published in April by financial services company JG Wentworth. BMO Real Financial Progress Index a report It found earlier this year that “date inflation” is on the rise, with the average all-in cost of dates increasing by 12.5 percent in 2026, to $189, a rate that exceeds the cost of living. And low-income people are the most affected, as 33% of people who earn less than $50,000 a year say they have stopped dating completely, while 15% of people who earn more than $100,000 have taken a complete break from the dating process, according to the latest reports. research From Louis Jadot and Morning Consult.

“To me, this signals a real shift: Connection is no longer something people spontaneously seek; it’s something they have to budget for, justify, and sometimes opt out of altogether,” says Farnoush Torabi, a financial analyst and host of the show. Even money Podcast. “This can make people more intentional, but it can also make dating more limited and more unequal.”

What these new economic pressures have created is inevitable friction: People, Al-Turabi noted, want to be more intentional about dating — in-person dating events were on the rise in 2025, according to data ticketing platform Eventbrite shared with WIRED — but doing so is becoming more difficult financially.

In these uncertain economic times, dating is slowly turning into a luxury exclusive to the wealthy.

Brandon Wade, co-CEO of luxury dating site Seeking, also says you shouldn’t date if you can’t afford it. “Until we have a level of financial security to give, how do we love? You don’t love and give from a place of abundance. You give from a place of lack.”

Men from Gen Z to Gen X seem to be opting out of dating. The narrative, which focuses primarily on direct relationships, has become extremely popular across social media as more people feel hurt.

TikTok users @eddieeye71A single father and music fan posted a recent video clip in which he talked about the high costs he saw, noting that he stopped dating 18 months ago. “I feel like I have more control over my money,” he says. Tik Tok user @Imjustln He posted a video saying he was also feeling stressed: “I can’t date in this economy. Not only am I spending $80 for a tank of gas, I’m driving 45 minutes to an hour to go see people on a date, and then I’m down $80 to $100 per date — like what’s going on? I just did that two nights in a row. Hell no!”

This problem may partly explain why Sugar baby The discourse — and the economic realities of dating — has recently captured the zeitgeist.