Jun 8, 2026
Rachel Tabacnic entered the new year with a goal of dating more, but with one important caveat: she wasn’t willing to spend a fortune getting there.
As dating costs continue to climb, some young adults are embracing a trend known as ”solomaxxing” — choosing to stay single rather than pursuing a romantic relationship.While Tabacnic hasn’t sworn off dating altogether, the rising cost of finding a partner has made her far more selective about where, when and with whom she spends her time.
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The cost of gas has made long-distance dating harder to justify. With the national average price of gasoline sitting at $4.22 per gallon, according to AAA, even a few extra trips each week can put a noticeable dent in a budget. Tabacnic told MarketWatch that filling up her tank costs roughly $50, meaning a handful of dates across town can quickly become an expensive commitment.
“People don’t want to go on more than just a coffee date,” she said. “So am I going to drive an hour and a half just for coffee?”
Love meets inflation
Tabacnic’s experience reflects a broader shift among young Americans. Finding “the one” was once considered a milestone worth investing in. But for a growing number of Gen Z adults facing high rents, student debt and the rising cost of everyday life, romance is starting to look more like a luxury expense than a life goal.
The shift comes as dating grows increasingly expensive. The average American now spends $189 on a date when costs such as dining out, transportation and pre-date grooming are included, according to the Bank of Montreal’s 2026 Real Financial Progress Index report. That’s up 12.5% from a year earlier.
“We are seeing the effect of “date inflation,” which is the rising cost of going out with another person, especially if you’re the one picking up the check,” Erica Sandberg, a consumer finance expert at BadCredit.org told Moneywise. “Because it’s so expensive, young adults need to be more selective.”
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Protecting your peace
Rising dating costs are only part of the reason many Gen Z adults are embracing solomaxxing. According to Sandberg, economic uncertainty and a challenging job market are also shaping how young people approach relationships.
“Not having as much expendable cash as you would like and that you think others have can have a negative impact on your self-esteem,” she said. “Of course you want to enter a dating situation feeling good about yourself. Being broke or in debt can erode confidence.”
While financial struggles can be navigated within an established relationship, Sandberg noted that many people are hesitant to begin a new one while dealing with money-related stress. Their concerns may not be unfounded. A 2026 survey from Achieve found that 78% of Americans said a prospective partner’s short-term debt would be a dating dealbreaker.
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For others, the decision to stay single goes beyond dollars. It’s also about protecting their peace.
A recent global survey conducted by analytics firm MyIQ and shared with Fortune found that nearly half of respondents aged 18 to 34 said being single feels more peaceful than being in a relationship.
The survey also found that 42% believe romantic relationships can get in the way of personal ambitions, financial goals and self-improvement. Meanwhile, one-third of respondents said they’re intentionally stepping back from dating altogether as a way to protect their mental health.
Don’t let solomaxxing become an excuse
There are plenty of reasons why solomaxxing is taking off online. But choosing to stay single doesn’t have to mean putting your love life on hold indefinitely. Sandberg said it’s more important to be honest about your financial situation than to overspend in an effort to impress a potential partner.
“If you’re tempted to overdo your credit cards to give an appearance of wealth, resist,” she said. “If the partnership gets serious, you’ll have to reveal that anyway, and if it doesn’t, you’ll just be stuck with a major bill.”
While inflation may have changed the cost of dating, it hasn’t changed what most people are looking for: connection. For young adults wondering whether a date is worth a tank of gas, the answer may not be to stop looking for love altogether. Instead, it may be to be more intentional about how they pursue it.
“Go forth and fall in love! Just be transparent,” Sandberg said.
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Victoria Vesovski is a Toronto-based staff reporter at Moneywise covering personal finance, lifestyle and trending news. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University, and her work has appeared on platforms including Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Apple News.
