Getting ghosted? Rising cost of living affecting Canadians’ dating life

The cost of finding love

The cost of finding love is putting strain on Canadian singlesm with nearly a third (30%) of respondants reporting they have cancelled a date to save money.

For those Canadians that do go on dates, they spend an average of $173 for each date, including the cost for transportation, preparation — such as grooming and attire — and expenses, such as food, beverages and tickets for events. With partnered Canadians going on an average of 10 to 21 dates before committing to a relationship, Canadians could spend up to $3,621 on dates before making a relationship official.

The cost of dating has become a burden on many Canadians’ overall spending, with 38% saying the costs associated with dating have affected their ability to reach their financial goals.

Over two-in-five (41%) single Canadians often left a first date feeling it was a waste of time and money.

The majority (60%) are not willing to spend money on dating apps or professional matchmaking services. Among the single Canadians willing to spend on these services, on average they will spend only $16, annually.

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Financial attractiveness on the dating scene

While singles, on average, have been on three dates in the past 12 months, more than half (55%) say they have been on zero dates in the past year. Further, on average, single men have been on four dates in the past 12 months while single women have been on three dates.

When evaluating their prospective partner's finances, the most attractive financial traits include a sense of financial responsibility (95%), the ability to discuss their finances with their partner (88%), having a good financial plan (87%) and having a successful career trajectory (83%).

While single men and women have similar expectations for their prospective partners' finances, men are more likely to feel pressure to demonstrate good financial attributes than women according to the survey.

Single women are more likely to consider low credit scores (7% more) and whether their partner earns significantly less than them (5% more) as financial dealbreakers than men.

Nearly half (48%) of single men admit their net worth affects their dating prospects, which is 12% more than women. Single men are 20% more likely to feel pressured to plan expensive dates than women.

The same BMO index states concerns about the cost of living (56%), inflation (51%) and a possible economic recession (48%) have increased in the past three months. Despite these concerns, 72% of Canadians feel in control of their finances and 38% feel more financially secure than they were a year ago.

Survey methodology

Survey data was collected between December 23, 2024 and Janurary 20, 2025 from 2,500 adults aged 18 and over. Quotas and weighting were used to ensure the sample's composition reflects that of the Canadian population according to census parameters.