No Money, No Honey: Study Finds Over Half of M’sian Men Find Dating Pricey, 13.2% Borrow Money for Dates

Going on dates is a normal part of many relationships, but have you ever stopped to think about how much they actually cost?

A study on dating expenditure in Malaysia found that 49.3% of respondents consider the current cost of dating to be expensive. So, just how much are Malaysians spending to keep the romance alive?

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More than one in ten men have borrowed money to cover dating expense

A study by Legasi Research titled “The Dating Expenditure Survey in Malaysia” (Tinjauan Perbelanjaan Janji Temu di Malaysia) collected 152 responses between 20 May and 13 June 2026 and found that:

• 52.6% of respondents spend between RM51 and RM200 per date
• 27.6% spend between RM51 and RM100, while 25% spend between RM101 and RM200

Meanwhile, 17.1% of respondents spent between RM31 and RM50 per date, while 9.2% spent RM201 to RM300 and 3.9% spent more than RM300.

Beyond their spending habits, the study also found that men were more likely to feel the financial strain of dating. Some 27.5% of male respondents reported experiencing financial pressure from dating, compared with 16.4% of female respondents.

The difference was also reflected in borrowing habits, with more than one in 10 male respondents (or 13.2%) saying they had borrowed money to cover dating expenses, compared with 4.9% of women.

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Six in ten usually pay for entire bill

Commenting on the findings, economic researcher Firdzan Nur Yassin said dating involves more than simply spending time with a partner, as it also comes with financial responsibilities that may differ between men and women.

“Although most respondents spend within what they consider a reasonable amount, some still experience financial pressure and have even borrowed money for dating,” he said.

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The survey also found that taking turns to pay was the most common arrangement, with 42.1% of respondents saying they alternated who paid for dates. Meanwhile, 38.8% said they usually covered their partners’ expenses, while only 5.9% reported splitting bills equally.

When broken down by gender, nearly 6 in 10 male respondents (or 59.3%) said they usually paid for dates themselves, compared with just 8.2% of female respondents.

Despite the financial pressures associated with dating, 76.3% of respondents said they were willing to spend more to maintain their relationships. This included 79.1% of men and 72.1% of women.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments!

Also read: Study: M’sia Ranks 5th Globally in Love Life Satisfaction, 67% of M’sians Pleased with Their Sex Lives