Gone are the days of fancy dinners on first dates. Singles these days are opting for something more modest.
According to a recent DatingNews.com survey of 1,500 single adults in the United States between the ages of 18 and 61, 70% of singles said they would be comfortable having a first date at a fast food restaurant.
Wendy Walsh, a psychology professor at California State University, Channel Islands, thinks single people are choosing burgers and fries over steak and wine for this reason:
“Suddenly, $1 meals became acceptable.”
At the end of the day, Walsh emphasizes, it’s “economics, economics, economics.”
She says housing costs are too high and many young people face crippling student debt. According to Zillow, the average rent in the U.S. is nearly $2,000 per month, and the average federal student loan debt is $39,075 per borrower, according to the Education Data Initiative.
Product prices are also rising. Overall prices rose by about 25% from January 2020 to December 2025, according to Consumer Price Index data.
“All of a sudden, $1 meals became acceptable,” Walsh said.
“Please bring coffee and snacks.”
There are a variety of fast food options in the United States, but Chick-fil-A is the most popular, with 20% of singles saying Chick-fil-A is their top choice for a first date.
Depending on where you are in the country, a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich can cost just over $5 and an ice cream cone can cost less than $2.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to have a first date but don’t fancy fast food, DatingNews.com found that 21% of women and 18% of men choose to have coffee. 19% of Gen Z choose ice cream or dessert shops.
Walsh also recommends a fun hike. “Bring coffee and snacks” and enjoy the view, she says. “Or in the evening, a glass of wine and some cheese and crackers!”
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