Love in the Age of Inflation: For Gen Z, dating is becoming unaffordable

In New York, as in many major cities, soaring prices and a sluggish job market are beginning to take a heavy toll on the love lives of young adults.

According to the American Institute for Family Studies, more than half of singles aged 22 to 35 consider a lack of money to be the main obstacle to dating. Between exorbitant rent, a restaurant meal costing over $130, and a simple cocktail at $20, romantic dates are becoming unaffordable, prompting Gen Z to opt for outdoor picnics—a more affordable alternative for Americans in search of love.

The impact of digital technology

This financial insecurity only reinforces a sense of disillusionment already fueled by the rise of dating apps and digital isolation. Added to this is the pressure from social media, where some influencers don’t hesitate to lash out and disparage dates they deem too modest. It is these very same content creators who set completely unrealistic financial standards. Yet, as several contributors point out in the pages of The New York Times, being in a relationship remains the best way to cope with inflation. Sharing a two-room apartment in Manhattan can, in fact, save more than $25,000 (about 22,000 euros) a year.

And beyond financial considerations, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on this generation’s ability to form relationships. Self-confidence has waned as social withdrawal intensified during the lockdown.

Between prohibitive costs and a loss of confidence, Gen Z’s search for romantic relationships has now become a real economic challenge.