Love is in the air, and so is the bill: 13pc of Malaysian men willing to go into debt for dates

For illustration only. Romance does not come cheap in Malaysia and more feel the pinch of dating costs, research by Legasi Research released on October 27, 2026 shows. — Pexels pic

By Milad Hassandarvish

First Published: Tuesday, 27 Oct 2026 1:12 PM MYT

Last Modified: Tuesday, 27 Oct 2026 1:13 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — For some Malaysian men, keeping the romance alive could mean stretching their wallets — and a new study suggests some are even willing to go into debt for a date.

According to research by Legasi Research, men continue to shoulder most dating expenses, with 59.3 per cent saying they usually pay the entire bill, compared with just 8.2 per cent of women.

“The data shows that the majority of men still bear the dating expenses, highlighting a strong adherence to traditional gender roles in courtship,” Legasi Research economic researcher Firdzan Nur Yassin, said today in a news conference here to present the findings.

Dinner dates and the price of romance

Shopping malls remain a popular dating destination, with 44.1 per cent of respondents saying they frequent them, while 42.8 per cent opt for cafes or restaurants.

Food and drinks are the biggest expense, cited by 92.8 per cent of respondents, while a typical date costs between RM51 and RM200.

But the bill is not always easy to swallow, with 49.3 per cent of respondents describing dating costs as “expensive”.

Men also appear more likely to feel the financial strain, with 27.5 per cent reporting pressure from dating expenses, compared with 16.4 per cent of women.

Picking up the tab — and taking turns

The findings suggest that splitting costs is more common among women, with 50.8 per cent saying they take turns paying and 32.8 per cent saying their partner usually covers the bill.

For men, the willingness to spend more appears tied to keeping a relationship going, with 79.1 per cent saying they would increase their spending to maintain their romantic connection.

First dates can bring added pressure to impress, with 59.3 per cent of men saying they are willing to spend more on them, compared with 23 per cent of women.

That willingness, however, has its limits — or at least it can come at a cost.

The study found that 13.2 per cent of men were willing to incur debt for a date, compared with 4.9 per cent of women.

Legasi Research economic researcher Firdzan Nur Yassin speaks to the press during the briefing session on Dating Expenses here at Ideas Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2026. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Young hearts, tight budgets

The survey respondents were largely young, with 43.4 per cent aged between 18 and 24, while 53.3 per cent lived in Selangor or Kuala Lumpur.

A substantial proportion reported monthly incomes below RM3,000, making regular dating another expense to juggle alongside everyday living costs.

Most respondents said they went on dates at least once a month, adding to the pressure on those trying to balance their love lives with their budgets.

The research used random sampling to collect 160 surveys nationwide, of which 152 were deemed suitable for analysis.

Thirty per cent of respondents were married, with the researchers including their outings in the definition of “dating” to capture a broader picture of romantic spending.