Money is entering the dating landscape and reshaping gender dynamics. Between chivalry, independence, and inflation, is money really influencing romantic relationships? happn, the real-life dating app, surveyed its users to find out. Between persistent traditions and new attitudes, the results reveal a surprising balance between romance and realism.

Who pays the bill?

The seemingly outdated question of “who pays for what” on a first date is making a comeback. When it’s time to settle the bill after a date, splitting it is not the preferred option: for 61% of singles, the man should pay. For reasons of chivalry, only 29% of respondents favor a stricter bill split, sometimes even based on each person’s income (10%). While women aspire to equality, they still earn on average 12% less than men.

“It seems that the principle of financial chivalry is making a strong comeback. Despite a desire for gender equality, the results of our study mainly show an attempt to rebalance an economic dynamic perceived as unequal,” comments Claire Rénier, Head of Communications at happn.

Loud Budgeting: saying no without hesitation

While 46% of singles believe that love and money do not mix well, nearly 20% still want to share the same financial values as their partner. Some (38%) consider the topic important but prefer to wait until the relationship becomes serious before addressing it, while others (16%) see financial alignment as essential from the very beginning.

Faced with these differences, a new practice is emerging: loud budgeting. This trend involves openly expressing one’s financial limits from the start of a relationship, without embarrassment or avoidance. It is part of a broader movement, salary talk, where younger generations discuss money earlier in relationships, without taboo or discomfort.

Tight budget? No problem

Inflation is making things more difficult: going on multiple dates means increasing expenses. According to a study by the credit organization Self, singles in some countries spend on average nearly $50 per date. For both men and women, people think twice before spending money on a date that might turn out to be disappointing.

While 32% of singles have already canceled a date due to lack of financial means, 53% say this does not stop them from meeting others. A walk, a picnic, or a homemade dinner works perfectly well, even though 15% of singles admit they prefer to be invited in any case.

Survey conducted among 1,062 happn users in December 2025