Finns opt for cheap first dates as dating culture shifts

Finnish young adults are increasingly choosing low-cost first dates, with coffee or a walk now the norm rather than restaurant meals, according to a report by national broadcaster Yle.

Beata Nyberg, 27, prefers coffee dates and splitting the bill. “I don’t spend much on dating,” she said, adding that she budgets carefully for early meetings. She spends €60–100 monthly on appearance upkeep, such as cosmetics and hairdresser visits, but not on the dates themselves.

A University of Jyväskylä and Ministry of Justice survey found over 40% of 18–29-year-olds feel they have less disposable income for leisure than their peers.

Dating coach and social psychologist Inka Rantanen said Finns typically spend “a few tens of euros” on dates, though some pay €20–100 monthly for premium app features on platforms like Tinder and Hinge. Despite the rise of dating apps, simple outings—coffee, walks, or ice cream—remain popular.

Cheap dates can affect the mood, Rantanen noted, advising daters to seek partners with similar financial expectations. She suggests thoughtful, low-cost options like sunset walks or homemade coffee on a nature trail.

Heli Vaaranen, a psychotherapist and leading expert at the Family Federation of Finland, said first dates once often involved restaurant meals and one partner paying. Now, splitting the bill is standard, with pricier outings reserved for later stages of dating.

Nyberg avoids restaurant first dates, preferring the flexibility of a coffee meetup. If the chemistry is lacking, “we just have coffee and then go our separate ways,” she said.