Love might be priceless, but dating certainly isn’t. As the cost of living continues to rise, singles are finding that romance comes with a higher price tag than ever before. And it’s not just first dates. Couples in long-term relationships are also tightening their belts when it comes to nights out and shared experiences.
The cost of a date varies widely across Europe, reflecting differences in local price levels. It has also risen significantly over the past five years. So, which European cities are the most expensive or the most affordable for a date? And just how much should you expect to spend on a romantic outing in Europe?
A study from Deutsche Bank Research Institute compares the cost of a date across 67 cities worldwide — and nearly half of the studied cities are in Europe. Drawing on data from this report ("Mapping the World's Prices"), Euronews Business takes a closer look at how much dating actually costs in European cities.
For the purposes of the research, a “cheap date” is defined as: one bottle of wine, a pair of jeans, a dress, two coffees, a meal for two at a mid-range restaurant, two cinema tickets, two one-way public transport tickets, and a 5km taxi ride.
Swiss and Nordic cities most expensive for dating
This year, Switzerland topped the list as the most expensive country in Europe for a "cheap" date. In terms of cities, Geneva leads with an average cost of €400, followed closely by Zurich at €393 — taking the top two spots in the ranking.
Copenhagen (€337) and Oslo (€321) follow the Swiss cities. In Europe, Stockholm comes in 7th at €292, while Helsinki takes 9th place at €286 — placing the Nordic capitals alongside Switzerland as the most expensive locations for a date on the continent.
Britain tops EU’s Big Four in dating costs
A "cheap" date costs €313 (£269) in London and €297 (£255) in Edinburgh, placing the two British cities 5th and 6th on the list. This also makes the UK the most expensive country for dating when compared to the EU’s four largest economies.
In the capitals of those economies, the costs are notably lower: €268 in Paris, €248 in Berlin, €224 in Madrid, and €200 in Rome. Interestingly, some non-capital cities are pricier than their capitals — such as Milan (€275), Munich (€272), Frankfurt (€251), while Barcelona is a slight exception at €214.
The average cost of a cheap date across 28 European cities is €264.
Cheap dates: Istanbul, Prague, and Budapest
Istanbul ranks as the cheapest European city for dating at €163, followed by Prague (€186) and Budapest (€192).
However, these figures reflect nominal prices and do not take into account purchasing power standards (PPS). For locals, these costs may still feel high. When income levels are considered, the picture of affordability across cities is likely to shift significantly.
The cost of a cheap date in several other European cities includes: Amsterdam (€290), Dublin (€283), Brussels (€275), Vienna (€253), Athens (€218), and Lisbon (€214).
How do non-European cities compare in dating costs?
Outside Europe, New York ranks as the most expensive city globally at €301 ($354), placing 6th among 67 cities. Bangalore, India, is the cheapest, with a date costing just €88.
Tel Aviv-Yafo is also among the more expensive cities, with a date costing €291. Buenos Aires (€252) is pricier than many major European cities, as well as globally popular destinations like Los Angeles (€244), Dubai (€244), and Tokyo (€184). On the other hand, Shanghai, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro are significantly cheaper in nominal terms, with the cost of a date falling below €150.
Dating has become significantly more expensive
In October 2022, inflation in the EU reached its highest level in four decades, with the cost of living rising sharply across nearly all member states. When comparing the Cheap Date Index from 2020 to 2025, a significant increase is evident. Although the original report is in USD, we converted the figures into euros to offer a clearer perspective, and then calculated the change over this period.
Istanbul saw the highest increase, with the cost of a cheap date rising by 84% in euro terms. The increase is also 40% or more in several other cities: Edinburgh (46%), Budapest (45%), London (41%), and Birmingham (40%). However, part of this rise is influenced by exchange rate fluctuations. In the UK, for example, the actual increase would be slightly lower when calculated in local currency — around 33% in London.
In Istanbul, the impact is even more dramatic: due to the sharp depreciation of the Turkish lira in recent years, the local cost of a cheap date has surged by over 840%.
Across most European cities, the cost of a cheap date has risen by approximately 25–30% over the past five years. Rome stands out as the only city where prices have actually declined in euro terms by 2%.
A Euronews Business article titled “Which Are the Cheapest and Most Expensive Countries in Europe?” compares European countries based on overall cost of living.
