Love may be unconditional, but romance, it turns out, is not. Against the backdrop of rising living costs, dating has become a luxury: Not only the first date, but even long-term couples report cutting back on outings and shared activities. The costs vary greatly from city to city in Europe, reflecting differences in local price levels. In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in prices, and the gaps between countries become even more apparent when considering income levels in each location.
The UK is More Expensive than France, Germany, and Italy
According to research by Deutsche Bank's research institute ("Mapping the World’s Prices"), Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe for dating. Geneva tops the list with an average cost of around €400 per date, followed by Zurich with €393. Next are Copenhagen (€337) and Oslo (€321). The Swedish capital, Stockholm, ranks seventh (€292), and Helsinki in Finland is ninth (€286).
London ranks fifth with a cost of €313 per date, and Edinburgh is sixth (€297). These are the most expensive cities for dating among the four largest economies in the EU. By comparison: Paris - €268, Berlin - €248, Madrid - €224, and Rome - €200. Interestingly, in non-capital cities, prices are sometimes higher: Milan (€275), Munich (€272), Frankfurt (€251), while Barcelona is actually cheaper than its capital (€214). The average cost of a date across the 28 European cities surveyed is €264.
The Cheapest Cities: Istanbul, Prague, and Budapest
Istanbul is the cheapest city in Europe for dating, with an average cost of only €163. Next are Prague (€186) and Budapest (€192). Despite the low prices, these are only nominal costs and do not reflect the residents' purchasing power. When analyzing the data in terms of income levels, the picture changes and sometimes even reverses.
Other cities included in the survey: Amsterdam (€290), Dublin (€283), Brussels (€275), Vienna (€253), Athens (€218), and Lisbon (€214).
What About Outside Europe?
New York ranks as the most expensive city outside Europe for dating – with a cost of €301 (USD 354), placing it sixth overall. On the other hand, Bangalore in India is the cheapest city: A date there will cost around €88 only. Tel Aviv-Jaffa also ranks among the most expensive cities in the world, with a cost of €291 per date. Cities like Buenos Aires (€252), Los Angeles and Dubai (€244), and Tokyo (€184) fall in between. Conversely, cities like Shanghai, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro are on the lower end of the scale – with prices below €150 per date.
Dating Costs Have Risen Sharply Over the Past Five Years
In October 2022, inflation in the European Union reached a four-decade high, which also affected dating prices. Between 2020 and 2025, there was a significant increase in the "Cheap Date Index" in most cities.
Istanbul leads here as well: The cost of a date jumped by 84% in euro terms, but due to the collapse of the Turkish lira, this translates to more than 840% in local currency. Other cities with sharp increases include Edinburgh (46%), Budapest (45%), London (41%), and Birmingham (40%). However, it's important to note that part of the increase also stems from exchange rate changes.
In general, prices in European cities rose by about 25% to 30% over the past five years. The exception is Rome, where prices actually dropped by 2% in euro terms.