Cost of true love? Americans say it takes a six-figure salary

A quarter of Americans believe their financial situation has stopped them from finding “true love,” according to new research.

That was revealed in a new survey of 2,000 general population Americans, which examined the intersection of finances, dating and finding love.

Younger respondents were more likely to believe their finances have prevented them from finding “true love,” with 40% of Gen Z admitting this, compared to just 11% of baby boomers.

This generational difference was clear throughout the data: overall, Gen Z placed more of an emphasis on the correlation between money and love than older generations.

Eight in 10 Gen Z respondents (78%) said someone’s salary will determine whether they can find “true love,” compared to just 32% of baby boomers.

And what is the salary needed for true love? Respondents as a whole said $106,417, with baby boomers the only generation to average under six figures.

Commissioned by consumer finance app Current (https://current.com/) and conducted by Talker Research, the survey revealed that 15% of respondents have even broken up with someone specifically due to their financial situation.

Again, this was higher among Gen Z as 25% have ended a relationship because of money, compared to just 7% of baby boomers.

For those who have broken up with someone because of their finances, the results found that financial management skills played a greater role than someone’s salary.

Respondents highlighted the constant borrowing of money (30%) and general irresponsibility with money (27%) as the top factors in the break-up, with others also citing a lack of long-term thinking as a reason the relationship ended (23%).

“It’s clear from the results that Americans are thinking of love and money together, not as separate entities, which is understandable, given the peace of mind and stability that comes with being financially secure,” said Erin Bruehl, VP of Communications, Current. “But we’d like to gently push back on the notion that there’s a specific salary that ‘allows’ you to find true love. Everyone is worthy of finding love and happiness and showing up as a thoughtful, responsible partner will always matter more than the number in your bank account.”

The survey also looked more specifically at respondents’ current dating habits and how those are trending in 2026.

Half of respondents, regardless of relationship status, would like to go on more dates but finances are holding them back.

And a similar number (52%) said concerns about the “affordability crisis” are impacting their dating habits. This was much higher among male respondents: 60% of men said the affordability crisis is impacting their dating, compared to 46% of women.

That might be due in part to the pressure of paying for dates: men are still expected to foot the bill.

Half of respondents overall (49%) said “the man” should pay for a first date, with men more likely to say this (59% vs. 42% of women). Only 6% of respondents said “the woman” should pay, while a notable number (24%) said it doesn’t matter the gender, but whoever asked the other out should be the one to pay.

Perhaps due to high costs and the pressure of dating, 31% of respondents are going on fewer dates in 2026 than in previous years.

“Six in 10 respondents said there’s too much pressure on dating right now, and a big part of that pressure is financial,” said Bruehl. “The good news is that there are accessible and affordable financial tools and solutions available to help Americans not only effectively manage their money, but help them get ahead and meet their goals, whether that’s managing spending more intentionally, building up savings or working toward better credit. It doesn’t just reduce stress. It builds the kind of confidence and stability that makes every part of life, including dating, feel more manageable.”