Singles are cutting back as dates get pricier, CBS segment reports
A study cited by CBS News says millennials average $252 per date, while Gen Z spends $205, with many singles scaling back.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
Romance is getting a budget check: a study cited by CBS News says millennials spend an average of $252 on a date, while Gen Z spends $205.
CBS News’ “Money Moves with Jill Schlesinger” reported that higher prices are changing how singles approach dating, with half of singles saying they are either going out less often or picking less expensive activities.
Dates meet the inflation squeeze
The segment framed dating as one more part of daily life being pinched by inflation. The figures cited in the report put a clear price tag on the pressure facing younger adults who are trying to meet people while also watching their wallets.
According to the study referenced by CBS News, millennials are spending more per outing than Gen Z. The report did not identify the study by name in the available summary, but it said the average cost per date was $252 for millennials and $205 for Gen Z.
The behavior shift is just as sharp as the sticker price. CBS News reported that half of singles surveyed said they have responded by going on fewer dates or choosing cheaper plans.
That could mean romance is being reworked around the bill, at least for the singles described in the study. The segment did not provide a breakdown of what counted toward each date’s cost.
Egg freezing adds another money strain
The “Money Moves” episode also spotlighted a 30-year-old single woman facing the high cost of freezing her eggs, according to CBS News.
The segment described her as daunted by the expense. CBS News did not provide the woman’s name or the exact amount she faced in the available summary.
Her situation put another financial question inside the broader cost of being single: how to plan for the future when big personal decisions come with steep upfront costs.
Bitcoin pitch gets airtime
The episode also turned to investing, featuring Raoul Pal, described by CBS News as a TikTok investor.
According to CBS News, Pal rejected the S&P 500’s average annual return of 11% as his preferred benchmark and instead favored putting money into bitcoin.
The segment summary did not include more detail on Pal’s argument, the time period behind the S&P 500 figure, or any response from other financial experts.
Taken together, the episode tracked three money pressures hitting younger and single adults: the cost of dating, the cost of fertility choices and the lure of high-risk investment ideas presented against traditional market returns.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.