Map Shows Most Expensive Cities for Romantic Valentine's Day

WalletHub analysis ranks destinations across budget, activities, gift accessibility and weather forecast.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A recent WalletHub analysis of 100 U.S. cities found that certain destinations can be much more expensive for celebrating Valentine's Day than others. The personal finance site compared local prices for things like dinner, drinks, movies, salon services and hotel stays, normalized to each city's median household income, to determine the most budget-friendly and most costly places to celebrate the holiday.

Why it matters

The report noted that Americans are projected to spend $29.1 billion on Valentine's Day this year, making local price differences meaningful for couples planning dinners, gifts and getaways.

The details

WalletHub's budget category in the report compares local prices—like a three‑course dinner for two, drinks, movie tickets, salon and massage costs, taxis and a three‑star hotel—normalized to each city's median household income. The cities ranked as the most expensive Valentine's Day destinations are Detroit, Hialeah, Cleveland, Buffalo, Baton Rouge, Toledo, New Orleans, Miami, St. Louis, and Philadelphia.

  • WalletHub released the report on February 12, 2026.

The players

WalletHub

A personal finance website that analyzed 100 U.S. cities to determine the most and least expensive places to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Chip Lupo

A WalletHub analyst who commented on the report.

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What they’re saying

“It's common to spoil your partner on Valentine's Day, but inflation can certainly put a damper on those plans. Fortunately, the best cities for Valentine's Day offer a wide variety of affordable date activities, food options and places to buy gifts, so you can show that you care without breaking the bank. It's never a good idea to go into debt just to enjoy a holiday or give a gift.”

— Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst (WalletHub)

The takeaway

This report highlights the significant cost differences couples may face when planning Valentine's Day celebrations in different cities, underscoring the importance of budgeting and finding affordable options to avoid going into debt just to celebrate the holiday.