How much does a first date cost in Austin, TX?
A full night out on a first date in Austin costs about $213 for two, according to MoneyLion (2026-07-08). A simpler sit-down dinner date (starter, two mains, two cocktails) runs a median $115 before tip, per Mandoe Media (2026-04-20).
That full night out costs about the same as the 50-city average of $214, which makes Austin the #20 priciest of the 50 cities MoneyLion priced. Want to spend less? A coffee, a walk or one of the activity ideas below costs a fraction of dinner and a movie, and nationally daters report spending $92.91 on a first date on average.
Who pays? In a national survey, 38.8% of daters said they prefer to pay in full, 33.7% prefer to split and 27.4% said their date usually pays (JG Wentworth survey (2026-04-08)). City-level who-pays numbers for Austin will appear here once readers submit their first dates.
Published figures Seed data
| What's included | Cost for two | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full night out (dinner w/ wine + tip, movie, round-trip taxi, two drinks) | $213 | MoneyLion (2026-07-08), rank 20 of 50 (1 = priciest) |
| Three-course dinner for two with wine (before tip) | $97 | MoneyLion (2026-07-08) |
| Taxi, round trip | $46 | MoneyLion (2026-07-08) |
| Sit-down first date: shared starter, two mains, two cocktails (median, before tip and tax) | $115 | Mandoe Media (2026-04-20), rank 16 of 22 (1 = cheapest) |
| Two beers, mid-range dinner for two, transit, 20% tip | $122.20 | data.upneja.ai (2026-06) (3.6 hours of work at the local average wage) |
Each source prices a different basket, so the numbers are not averaged together.
Reader receipts
0 reader submissions so far. The reader median appears here once 10 are approved.
Reader data will override the seed figures as the headline once there's enough of it.
Submit a Austin first date Estimate a date hereDate ideas in Austin
Skip the default dinner and book something you can do together:
- Food or tasting tour (affiliate link)
Graze your way across town. It keeps the conversation moving, and nobody has to pick one restaurant. - Cooking class for two (affiliate link)
Make dinner together instead of just ordering it. Built-in teamwork and a story to tell afterwards. - Comedy show or live music (affiliate link)
Easy laughs and less pressure to talk the whole time. Grab a drink after if it's going well.
Browse all things to do in Austin on GetYourGuide (affiliate link)
Links go to current listings on GetYourGuide. Prices and availability are set there, and we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Disclosure
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Compare other cities
Also in TX: Dallas ($235) · El Paso ($162) · Fort Worth ($161) · Houston ($282) · San Antonio ($195)
Similar cost for a full night out: Tampa ($224) · Sacramento ($219) · Nashville ($212) · Minneapolis ($211)
All 50 cities · How first-date costs changed since 1955 · Cost calculator