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?

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.

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.

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

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