From romance to receipts: Aussies rethink first date expectations
Who pays on a first date has become one of the most awkward interactions in modern romance, and Australians are deeply divided, according to new research by Finder.
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A Finder survey of 1,006 respondents revealed almost half (44%) believe the bill should be split evenly on a first date.
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The research found 2 in 5 (39%) say the person who asked for the date should pay, while 11% still believe it should come down to gender.
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Just 6% of Aussies believe the higher earner should pick up the tab.
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First dates don't come cheap. Finder research shows Aussies spend $149 on the date itself, plus a hefty $522 getting ready – with big spends on clothes and shoes ($196), gifts ($174) and beauty treatments ($152).
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Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said rising living costs are reshaping Australia's dating culture.
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"What was once driven purely by attraction now comes with a price tag, as singles juggle dating alongside soaring rent, grocery and household expenses.
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"Although splitting the bill has become the most common approach on a first date, expectations aren't always aligned – and when they clash, it can quickly derail the experience."
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Pike said most people don't want money to be part of the conversation early on.
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"Problems can start when two people have different expectations about who should pay, and that can make things awkward before the date even has a chance to go well.
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"With the cost of dating going up, more Australians are choosing options that feel practical and fair, instead of sticking to old dating rules.
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"Finding a relationship still matters, but people don't want to put their finances under pressure to do it," Pike said.
Who do you think should pay on a first date?
| Split equally | 44% |
| The person who initiated the date | 39% |
| It should be based on gender | 11% |
| The person who earns more | 6% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,006 Australians December 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,006 respondents from December 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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