I am feeling quite ‘dated’

[+ FrankR]

According to this article the average cost of a date in New York is $297.27. That can’t be right? Maybe I am doing it wrong...

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/budget-and-spending/2018/08/10/average-cost-of-date-in-each-state/37292105/

[bnm73]

From the linked article:

 

"...the average price of a movie ticket has risen from $5.06 in 1999 to $8.97 in 2017, and the average cost of a liter of wine has risen from $5.09 to $12.38."

 

I've been all over the US, and I question where you're getting movie tickets for less than $9.

 

Also, where are you buying a liter of wine for less than $12.50? Wine bottles are 3/4 of a liter (750 mils). And if you think you're going to impress your date with the rase of a $12 bottle of wine for an entire liter.....well, you better hope they're a cheap date. (chuckle)

 

That said, there are a lot of things to do on an actual date that don't cost a lot of money. But some bread and cheese (or make something yourself) and a DECENT bottle of wine and have a picnic, for example.

[Walker1]

According to this article the average cost of a date in New York is $297.27. That can’t be right? Maybe I am doing it wrong...

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/budget-and-spending/2018/08/10/average-cost-of-date-in-each-state/37292105/

For 300 bucks you can hire an escort and be sure to strike out. of course with SESTA/FOSTA nowadays-yeah .

[+ E.T.Bass]

Theater tickets, dinner and parking in LA blow threw $300. One can find more economical choices of course such as art museums/galleries.

[Rudynate]

For 300 bucks you can hire an escort and be sure to strike out. of course with SESTA/FOSTA nowadays-yeah .

 

 

Everyone comes back from NYC complaining about restaurant prices, so it wouldn't surprise me it that were true. Here in SF, a modest dinner with drinks in a microbrew place can easily cost $100.00 with tip. With my sense of what restaurants charge in NYC, that same meal might run $150.00 or more.

[escortrod]

From the linked article:

 

"...the average price of a movie ticket has risen from $5.06 in 1999 to $8.97 in 2017, and the average cost of a liter of wine has risen from $5.09 to $12.38."

 

I've been all over the US, and I question where you're getting movie tickets for less than $9.

 

I got a movie ticket and a game of bowling for $5 in Vegas earlier this year. I guess places like that drag down the average.

[maninsoma]

I live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. Coming up with a price of an "average" date is nonsensical if the date includes dinner (and this survey included dinner for two). You can go out to an inexpensive place (yes, they still exist in San Francisco) for around $20 for two people (I'm talking about taquerias and hamburger places here, and not the new ones that try to pretend to be high end so they can jack up the price). You can go to a place with actual table service with decent food for anywhere from $30 to $70, depending on how much food you want and whether you are drinking any alcohol with your meal. You can go to nicer places and spend around $120 or so for a good meal for two. Or you can go to a truly fine dining establishment and pay hundreds of dollars per person.

 

I assume that people who make a lot of money here are able to go on dates to restaurants in the latter category, but even though such places are beyond most people's reach it doesn't mean that people without much disposable income cannot go out on a dinner date that seems special to them.

 

As far as movie tickets, I think that most films produced by Hollywood are garbage so I seldom go to a theater. I understand that there are monthly passes that one can buy that allow one to see either unlimited or a very high number of movies per month, and those only cost about $10 per month. So, if anything, perhaps $8 for a movie ticket is a high estimate for people who like to go to movies often since you might as well buy one of those passes instead of paying for each ticket.

[+ nycman]

I sure as hell wouldn't put out if you only spent $300 on a date.

 

You cheap piece of shit!....grin

 

Welcome to NYC!

[Rudynate]

I live in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. Coming up with a price of an "average" date is nonsensical if the date includes dinner (and this survey included dinner for two). You can go out to an inexpensive place (yes, they still exist in San Francisco) for around $20 for two people (I'm talking about taquerias and hamburger places here, and not the new ones that try to pretend to be high end so they can jack up the price). You can go to a place with actual table service with decent food for anywhere from $30 to $70, depending on how much food you want and whether you are drinking any alcohol with your meal. You can go to nicer places and spend around $120 or so for a good meal for two. Or you can go to a truly fine dining establishment and pay hundreds of dollars per person.

 

I assume that people who make a lot of money here are able to go on dates to restaurants in the latter category, but even though such places are beyond most people's reach it doesn't mean that people without much disposable income cannot go out on a dinner date that seems special to them.

 

As far as movie tickets, I think that most films produced by Hollywood are garbage so I seldom go to a theater. I understand that there are monthly passes that one can buy that allow one to see either unlimited or a very high number of movies per month, and those only cost about $10 per month. So, if anything, perhaps $8 for a movie ticket is a high estimate for people who like to go to movies often since you might as well buy one of those passes instead of paying for each ticket.

 

With a burrito in the Mission costing 10 bucks, you would be hard pressed to eat for 20.00. A slice of pizza and a soft drink, yes, but that's about it.

[+ FrankR]

I sure as hell wouldn't put out if you only spent $300 on a date.

 

You cheap piece of shit!....grin

 

Welcome to NYC!

They still sell pizza for $1 a slice in midtown. Another dollar will get you a coke. My Colgate smile is free! What more could you possibly want???

[mike carey]

In addition to the other comments, the average price for a litre of wine includes the wine in a box offerings that here, even for the good ones (a relative term I accept) can be $AU12 for two litres. It doesn't take much of that wine to bring the average down to $US12 no matter how much wine is sold at $20 a bottle (75cl).

[+ poolboy48220]

https://getyarn.io/yarn-story/a5418340-2e49-489d-9472-fb142b5eb957

[+ poolboy48220]

I try to stick in the $12-$15 range for wines and have found some amazing ones. There's a wine story near me (north of Detroit) run by two brothers who LOVE picking out new wines, and they've never steered me wrong. And last weekend I found a truly amazing $4.50 wine at Trader Joes.

[maninsoma]

With a burrito in the Mission costing 10 bucks, you would be hard pressed to eat for 20.00. A slice of pizza and a soft drink, yes, but that's about it.

 

A burrito and water. A few tacos and an agua fresca. It can be done, though I agree that (as with almost everything else in this world) food at a taqueria costs more now than it did even 10 years ago.

[Rudynate]

A burrito and water. A few tacos and an agua fresca. It can be done, though I agree that (as with almost everything else in this world) food at a taqueria costs more now than it did even 10 years ago.

 

And the price of entry for a deli sandwich is at least 10 bucks. Even at Subway, the big sandwich is 8 or 9 bucks.

[+ azdr0710]

And last weekend I found a truly amazing $4.50 wine at Trader Joes.

 

hey big spender.......

 

though I hear it's three-buck chuck now

 

 

[+ Avalon]

Have a brown bag picnic on a park bench.

[bnm73]

hey big spender.......

 

though I hear it's three-buck chuck now

 

 

 

it's good for making sangria (sometimes) and that's about it...not that I would know...

[samhexum]

According to this article the average cost of a date in New York is $297.27. That can’t be right? Maybe I am doing it wrong...

 

Jesus Christ, you must be shopping at Whole Foods.

• 
  Amport Foods Dates - Chopped
  8 oz $0.31/oz
  $2.49
   
   
  
   
  
• Mariani Dates - Pitted
  10 oz $0.40/oz
  $3.99
  

And that's for multiple ounces, not "a" date.

[maninsoma]

And the price of entry for a deli sandwich is at least 10 bucks. Even at Subway, the big sandwich is 8 or 9 bucks.

 

I live here, too, so you cannot just make up stuff and expect not to be challenged:

 

I can order a footlong cold cut combo at Subway near Van Ness and Market right now for $4.99 (seems like a sale price; I think it's normally $5.99). Sandwiches at Safeway are now $6.99, but if you buy sandwiches there regularly you probably get one free for every 6 or 7 you buy in a month, making the effective cost about $6.

 

Maybe you go to Ike's instead (or another higher quality sandwich shop) where, in fact, the least expensive sandwich is $9.

 

I'm not trying to argue that eating out in San Francisco is generally inexpensive, just that if one is on a limited budget or simply wants to buy prepared food and doesn't want to spend a lot for it, there are places where meals can still be had for $10 or less.

[MikeBiDude]

I can order a footlong cold cut combo at Subway near Van Ness and Market right now for $4.99 (seems like a sale price; I think it's normally $5.99

Enjoy that price while you can because chainwide the “$5 footlong” is extinct

https://www.businessinsider.com/subway-franchisees-revolt-5-dollar-footlong-2017-12

[Rudynate]

I live here, too, so you cannot just make up stuff and expect not to be challenged:

 

I can order a footlong cold cut combo at Subway near Van Ness and Market right now for $4.99 (seems like a sale price; I think it's normally $5.99). Sandwiches at Safeway are now $6.99, but if you buy sandwiches there regularly you probably get one free for every 6 or 7 you buy in a month, making the effective cost about $6.

 

Maybe you go to Ike's instead (or another higher quality sandwich shop) where, in fact, the least expensive sandwich is $9.

 

I'm not trying to argue that eating out in San Francisco is generally inexpensive, just that if one is on a limited budget or simply wants to buy prepared food and doesn't want to spend a lot for it, there are places where meals can still be had for $10 or less.

 

 

I think the special at subway-sandwich, drink, chips is 8.00 or 9.00 for the pricier sandwiches. That is with sales tax and a tip. Since it is money out of my pocket, I include it as part of the cost.

 

Yes, you can buy cheaper sandwiches, for example Calmart has great sandwiches for 5.99. But if you go into a restaurant and eat it there, a sandwich will cost you a good 12 bucks. By the time you add a beverage, tax and tip, you've spent nearly 20 bucks.

[Rudynate]

I live here, too, so you cannot just make up stuff and expect not to be challenged:

 

I can order a footlong cold cut combo at Subway near Van Ness and Market right now for $4.99 (seems like a sale price; I think it's normally $5.99). Sandwiches at Safeway are now $6.99, but if you buy sandwiches there regularly you probably get one free for every 6 or 7 you buy in a month, making the effective cost about $6.

 

Maybe you go to Ike's instead (or another higher quality sandwich shop) where, in fact, the least expensive sandwich is $9.

 

I'm not trying to argue that eating out in San Francisco is generally inexpensive, just that if one is on a limited budget or simply wants to buy prepared food and doesn't want to spend a lot for it, there are places where meals can still be had for $10 or less.

 

 

You're turning this into a contest of who knows more about San Francisco. The difference in our experiences is probably a result of the fact that we move in different circles and frequent different places.

[Rudynate]

You're turning this into a contest of who knows more about San Francisco. The difference in our experiences is probably a result of the fact that we move in different circles and frequent different places.

 

 

And another thing to consider is the hidden costs. For example, it's true you can get a sandwich at Safeway for 6.99, but there's a good chance you will wait in line for at least 15 minutes before your order is taken and at least 20 minutes total before you walk away with your lunch. Cities have become so busy and congested that the simplest option, for me, is far preferable to the cheapest option.

[+ Avalon]

And another thing to consider is the hidden costs. For example, it's true you can get a sandwich at Safeway for 6.99, but there's a good chance you will wait in line for at least 15 minutes before your order is taken and at least 20 minutes total before you walk away with your lunch. Cities have become so busy and congested that the simplest option, for me, is far preferable to the cheapest option.

 

So true! When I was able to get out and do my own grocery shopping the store I went to had a deli. They had many nice things behind the glass. I would sometimes have liked to have bought a pound of say pastrami or roast beef etc. but often there was someone wanting to have a sandwich made. The wait, standing was just too long for me.

 

There was a sandwich shop a couple of doors down in the same shopping center.