How much are you spending this Valentine’s Day? We look at the price of a dinner in each state
Valentine’s Day is an ancient holiday, believed to have roots as far back as the third century in Rome.
Though the holiday’s precise origin has been lost to history, Valentine’s Day is a cultural touchstone in many countries around the world. In the United States, Valentine’s Day is a multi-billion dollar boon for retailers and restaurants.
According to industry advocacy group National Retail Federation, 51 percent of American adults are expected to celebrate the holiday in 2019, the smallest share in at least 10 years. Despite waning participation, total holiday spending is projected to hit a record high of $20.7 billion in 2019 – up 5.6 percent from 2018.
While many use the occasion to buy candy, cards, and gifts for family members, coworkers, friends, and even pets, the vast majority of Valentine’s Day spending in the United States goes towards spouses and significant others.
The NRF estimates that about one in every three American adults will celebrate with a night out this year. On top of that, an estimated 52 percent of Americans will mark theoccasion by buying candy, 44 percent will buy a card, and 35 percent will buy flowers.
According to the NRF, the average cost of a couple’s night out on Valentine’s Day is $55.44 in the United States. Tack on some traditional Valentine’s Day mainstays like flowers, candy, cards, and jewelry, and total holiday expenses fall just shy of $200. Of course, because the cost of living varies considerably by state, so too does the average cost of Valentine’s Day.
To determine the average cost of a Valentine’s Day dinner in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average expected spending on a night out based on a survey of American adults conducted by the National Retail Federation. Average spending on candy, cards, and flowers also came from the NRF. Cost by state was calculated by doubling the NRF’s individual spending metric to better represent a couple spending and by adjusting that figure by the overall cost of living in a given state.
1. Alabama
• Avg. spending on a night out: $48.01 per couple (2nd lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $24.46 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $12.66 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.10 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 13.4 percent less expensive than avg.
2. Alaska
• Avg. spending on a night out: $58.43 per couple (10th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $29.76 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $15.41 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $31.77 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 5.4 percent more expensive than avg.
3. Arizona
• Avg. spending on a night out: $53.17 per couple (25th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.08 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.02 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $28.90 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 4.1 percent less expensive than avg.
4. Arkansas
• Avg. spending on a night out: $48.18 per couple (3rd lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $24.54 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $12.70 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.19 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 13.1 percent less expensive than avg.
5. California
• Avg. spending on a night out: $63.42 per couple (3rd highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $32.31 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $16.73 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $34.48 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 14.4 percent more expensive than avg.
6. Colorado
• Avg. spending on a night out: $57.10 per couple (11th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $29.09 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $15.06 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $31.04 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 3.0 percent more expensive than avg.
7. Connecticut
• Avg. spending on a night out: $60.26 per couple (6th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $30.70 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $15.89 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $32.76 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 8.7 percent more expensive than avg.
8. Delaware
• Avg. spending on a night out: $55.55 per couple (14th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $28.30 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.65 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $30.20 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 0.2 percent more expensive than avg.
9. Florida
• Avg. spending on a night out: $55.27 per couple (16th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $28.16 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.58 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $30.05 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 0.3 percent less expensive than avg.
10. Georgia
• Avg. spending on a night out: $51.06 per couple (19th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $26.01 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.47 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.76 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 7.9 percent less expensive than avg.
11. Hawaii
• Avg. spending on a night out: $65.64 per couple (the highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $33.44 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $17.31 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $35.69 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 18.4 percent more expensive than avg.
12. Idaho
• Avg. spending on a night out: $51.56 per couple (21st lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $26.26 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.60 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $28.03 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 7.0 percent less expensive than avg.
• Overall cost of living: 9.5 percent less expensive than avg.
17. Kentucky
• Avg. spending on a night out: $48.68 per couple (5th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $24.79 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $12.84 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.46 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 12.2 percent less expensive than avg.
18. Louisiana
• Avg. spending on a night out: $50.12 per couple (14th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.53 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.22 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.25 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 9.6 percent less expensive than avg.
19. Maine
• Avg. spending on a night out: $54.55 per couple (19th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.79 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.39 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $29.66 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 1.6 percent less expensive than avg.
20. Maryland
• Avg. spending on a night out: $60.71 per couple (5th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $30.92 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $16.01 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $33.00 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 9.5 percent more expensive than avg.
21. Massachusetts
• Avg. spending on a night out: $59.76 per couple (7th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $30.44 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $15.76 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $32.49 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 7.8 percent more expensive than avg.
22. Michigan
• Avg. spending on a night out: $51.73 per couple (22nd lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $26.35 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.64 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $28.12 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 6.7 percent less expensive than avg.
23. Minnesota
• Avg. spending on a night out: $54.05 per couple (21st highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.53 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.25 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $29.39 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 2.5 percent less expensive than avg.
24. Mississippi
• Avg. spending on a night out: $47.90 per couple (the lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $24.40 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $12.63 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.04 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 13.6 percent less expensive than avg.
25. Missouri
• Avg. spending on a night out: $49.62 per couple (9th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.27 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.08 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.98 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 10.5 percent less expensive than avg.
26. Montana
• Avg. spending on a night out: $52.17 per couple (24th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $26.57 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.76 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $28.36 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 5.9 percent less expensive than avg.
27. Nebraska
• Avg. spending on a night out: $50.17 per couple (16th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.56 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.23 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.28 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 9.5 percent less expensive than avg.
28. Nevada
• Avg. spending on a night out: $54.00 per couple (22nd highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.51 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.24 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $29.36 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 2.6 percent less expensive than avg.
29. New Hampshire
• Avg. spending on a night out: $58.71 per couple (8th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $29.91 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $15.48 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $31.92 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 5.9 percent more expensive than avg.
30. New Jersey
• Avg. spending on a night out: $62.76 per couple (4th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $31.97 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $16.55 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $34.12 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 13.2 percent more expensive than avg.
31. New Mexico
• Avg. spending on a night out: $51.89 per couple (23rd lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $26.43 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.68 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $28.21 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 6.4 percent less expensive than avg.
32. New York
• Avg. spending on a night out: $64.09 per couple (2nd highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $32.65 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $16.90 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $34.84 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 15.6 percent more expensive than avg.
33. North Carolina
• Avg. spending on a night out: $50.39 per couple (17th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.67 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.29 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.40 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 9.1 percent less expensive than avg.
34. North Dakota
• Avg. spending on a night out: $50.73 per couple (18th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.84 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.38 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.58 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 8.5 percent less expensive than avg.
35. Ohio
• Avg. spending on a night out: $49.51 per couple (8th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.22 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.06 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.92 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 10.7 percent less expensive than avg.
36. Oklahoma
• Avg. spending on a night out: $49.34 per couple (7th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.13 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.01 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.82 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 11.0 percent less expensive than avg.
37. Oregon
• Avg. spending on a night out: $55.33 per couple (15th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $28.18 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.59 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $30.08 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 0.2 percent less expensive than avg.
38. Pennsylvania
• Avg. spending on a night out: $54.55 per couple (19th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.79 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.39 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $29.66 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 1.6 percent less expensive than avg.
39. Rhode Island
• Avg. spending on a night out: $55.22 per couple (17th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $28.13 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.56 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $30.02 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 0.4 percent less expensive than avg.
40. South Carolina
• Avg. spending on a night out: $50.06 per couple (13th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.50 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.20 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.22 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 9.7 percent less expensive than avg.
41. South Dakota
• Avg. spending on a night out: $48.95 per couple (6th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $24.94 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $12.91 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.61 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 11.7 percent less expensive than avg.
42. Tennessee
• Avg. spending on a night out: $50.01 per couple (11th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $25.47 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.19 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.19 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 9.8 percent less expensive than avg.
43. Texas
• Avg. spending on a night out: $53.72 per couple (24th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.36 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.17 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $29.21 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 3.1 percent less expensive than avg.
44. Utah
• Avg. spending on a night out: $53.94 per couple (23rd highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.48 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.23 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $29.33 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 2.7 percent less expensive than avg.
45. Vermont
• Avg. spending on a night out: $56.33 per couple (13th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $28.69 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.85 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $30.62 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 1.6 percent more expensive than avg.
46. Virginia
• Avg. spending on a night out: $56.72 per couple (12th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $28.89 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.96 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $30.83 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 2.3 percent more expensive than avg.
47. Washington
• Avg. spending on a night out: $58.49 per couple (9th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $29.79 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $15.42 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $31.80 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 5.5 percent more expensive than avg.
48. West Virginia
• Avg. spending on a night out: $48.57 per couple (4th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $24.74 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $12.81 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $26.40 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 12.4 percent less expensive than avg.
49. Wisconsin
• Avg. spending on a night out: $51.45 per couple (20th lowest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $26.21 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $13.57 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $27.97 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 7.2 percent less expensive than avg.
50. Wyoming
• Avg. spending on a night out: $53.61 per couple (25th highest)
• Avg. spending on candy: $27.31 per couple
• Avg. spending on cards: $14.14 per couple
• Avg. spending on flowers: $29.15 per couple
• Overall cost of living: 3.3 percent less expensive than avg.