Few dates are more popular than the classic dinner and a movie night out. Couples young and old alike have enjoyed this combination for decades – a perfect way to enjoy each other’s company for an evening. Yet, while the basis of the date has remained consistent over the years, there is one thing that has changed – the cost.
The cost of a night out – consisting of movie tickets and dinner for two – has increased from under $7 in 1953 to nearly $90 in 2016. The average cost of a meal at a restaurant has increased by more than 1,122% over this period, and a single movie ticket price has increased by over 1,596%. The average cost of all goods increased by just 799% over this same timeframe.
Inflation is the primary force driving the increase in prices, however a date in 1953 would still cost $62.58 in today’s dollars – significantly less than the same date would cost today. The cost of a movie ticket, when adjusted for inflation, has almost doubled. This is partially due to the theater experience becoming nicer with higher quality concessions and amenities. Many restaurants have also begun to offer more sophisticated meals than those that were available in the 1950s.
The rising cost of going out may be one of the reasons teens are shifting much of their romantic life to the digital realm. According to a recent poll from the Washington D.C.-based think tank Pew Research Center, 72% of teens with relationship experience who spend time with a significant other each day do so via text message, while only 21% do so in person.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical prices of goods and services, movie ticket prices, and the cost of going out to dinner to find the approximate cost of a typical date each year since 1953. To paint a clearer picture of what a date might be like for each year, we included a top-charting love song from the Billboard year-end top singles for each year.
Click here to see the cost of a date each year.
To determine the average cost of a date for each year, 24/7 Wall St. combined the average price of a meal for two with the price of two movie tickets for each year starting in 1953. The price of a meal is based on Zagat’s national average price for a dinner out in 2016 and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food away from home averages. Movie ticket cost data came from the National Association of Theatre Owners. The prices from 1989 onward have been calculated, according to NATO, “by surveying movie theater companies and asking for their total box office and total tickets sold. The box office is divided by the number of tickets sold to arrive at the average ticket price for the industry.” Prior to 1989, ticket prices were based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The songs that were included as “best love songs” are love or love-related songs chosen from the Billboard year-end top singles for each year. They do not necessarily reflect the absolute top-ranking single of the year.
1953
> Cost of a date: $6.96
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.02
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $5.94
> Best love song: Percy Faith – “The Song from Moulin Rouge”
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1954
> Cost of a date: $7.15
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.10
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $6.05
> Best love song: Kitty Kallen – “Little Things Mean A Lot”
1955
> Cost of a date: $7.27
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.16
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $6.11
> Best love song: Les Baxter – “Unchained Melody”
1956
> Cost of a date: $7.43
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.18
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $6.25
> Best love song: The Platters – “My Prayer”
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1957
> Cost of a date: $7.71
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.24
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $6.47
> Best love song: Elvis Presley – “All Shook Up”
1958
> Cost of a date: $7.96
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.30
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $6.66
> Best love song: The Everly Brothers – “All I Have to Do Is Dream”
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1959
> Cost of a date: $8.21
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.36
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $6.85
> Best love song: Frankie Avalon – “Venus”
1960
> Cost of a date: $8.52
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.50
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $7.02
> Best love song: Percy Faith – “Theme From A Summer Place”
1961
> Cost of a date: $8.73
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.54
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $7.19
> Best love song: Patsy Cline – “I Fall to Pieces”
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1962
> Cost of a date: $9.00
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.62
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $7.38
> Best love song: Ray Charles – “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
1963
> Cost of a date: $9.24
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.70
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $7.54
> Best love song: Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs – “Sugar Shack”
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1964
> Cost of a date: $9.54
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $1.86
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $7.68
> Best love song: The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
1965
> Cost of a date: $9.87
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $2.02
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $7.85
> Best love song: Four Tops – “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”
1966
> Cost of a date: $10.41
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $2.20
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $8.21
> Best love song: The Association – “Cherish”
1967
> Cost of a date: $11.05
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $2.40
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $8.65
> Best love song: The Monkees – “I’m A Believer”
1968
> Cost of a date: $11.71
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $2.62
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $9.09
> Best love song: Herb Alpert – “This Guy’s in Love with You”
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1969
> Cost of a date: $12.49
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $2.84
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $9.65
> Best love song: The Archies – “Sugar, Sugar”
1970
> Cost of a date: $13.46
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $3.10
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $10.36
> Best love song: The Carpenters – “(They Long to Be) Close to You”
1971
> Cost of a date: $14.19
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $3.30
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $10.89
> Best love song: The Temptations – “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”
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1972
> Cost of a date: $14.73
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $3.40
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $11.33
> Best love song: Roberta Flack – “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
1973
> Cost of a date: $15.74
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $3.52
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $12.22
> Best love song: Paul McCartney & Wings – “My Love”
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1974
> Cost of a date: $17.54
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $3.78
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $13.76
> Best love song: Love Unlimited Orchestra – “Love’s Theme”
1975
> Cost of a date: $19.16
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $4.10
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $15.06
> Best love song: Captain & Tennille – “Love Will Keep Us Together”
1976
> Cost of a date: $20.34
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $4.26
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $16.08
> Best love song: Elton John & Kiki Dee – “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
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1977
> Cost of a date: $21.76
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $4.46
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $17.30
> Best love song: The Emotions – “Best of My Love”
1978
> Cost of a date: $23.56
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $4.68
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $18.88
> Best love song: Debby Boone – “You Light Up My Life”
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1979
> Cost of a date: $26.02
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $5.04
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $20.98
> Best love song: Peaches & Herb – “Reunited”
1980
> Cost of a date: $28.43
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $5.38
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $23.05
> Best love song: Smokey Robinson – “Cruisin”
1981
> Cost of a date: $30.68
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $5.56
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $25.12
> Best love song: Diana Ross & Lionel Richie – “Endless Love”
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1982
> Cost of a date: $32.36
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $5.88
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $26.48
> Best love song: John Cougar – “Hurts So Good”
1983
> Cost of a date: $33.94
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $6.30
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $27.64
> Best love song: Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle – “You and I”
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1984
> Cost of a date: $35.52
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $6.72
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $28.80
> Best love song: Lionel Richie – “Hello”
1985
> Cost of a date: $37.03
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $7.10
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $29.93
> Best love song: Foreigner – “I Want to Know What Love Is”
1986
> Cost of a date: $38.51
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $7.42
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $31.09
> Best love song: Peter Cetera – “Glory Of Love”
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1987
> Cost of a date: $40.15
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $7.82
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $32.33
> Best love song: Starship – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”
1988
> Cost of a date: $41.88
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.22
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $33.66
> Best love song: INXS – “Need You Tonight”
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1989
> Cost of a date: $43.19
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $7.98
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $35.21
> Best love song: Debbie Gibson – “Lost In Your Eyes”
1990
> Cost of a date: $45.31
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.44
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $36.87
> Best love song: Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville – “Don’t Know Much”
1991
> Cost of a date: $46.53
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.42
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $38.11
> Best love song: Bryan Adams – “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You”
1992
> Cost of a date: $47.18
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.30
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $38.88
> Best love song: Shanice – “I Love Your Smile”
1993
> Cost of a date: $47.86
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.28
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $39.58
> Best love song: UB40 – “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
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1994
> Cost of a date: $48.63
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.36
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $40.27
> Best love song: All-4-One – “I Swear”
1995
> Cost of a date: $49.88
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.70
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $41.18
> Best love song: Seal – “Kiss from a Rose”
1996
> Cost of a date: $51.04
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $8.84
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $42.20
> Best love song: Celine Dion – “Because You Loved Me”
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1997
> Cost of a date: $52.57
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $9.18
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $43.39
> Best love song: Monica – “For You I Will”
1998
> Cost of a date: $53.90
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $9.38
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $44.52
> Best love song: Shania Twain – “You’re Still the One”
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1999
> Cost of a date: $55.79
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $10.16
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $45.63
> Best love song: Sixpence None the Richer – “Kiss Me”
2000
> Cost of a date: $57.49
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $10.78
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $46.71
> Best love song: Faith Hill – “Breathe”
2001
> Cost of a date: $59.38
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $11.32
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $48.06
> Best love song: Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule – “I’m Real”
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2002
> Cost of a date: $60.90
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $11.62
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $49.28
> Best love song: Vanessa Carlton – “A Thousand Miles”
2003
> Cost of a date: $62.39
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $12.06
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $50.33
> Best love song: Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z – “Crazy in Love”
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2004
> Cost of a date: $64.24
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $12.42
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $51.82
> Best love song: Alicia Keys – “If I Ain’t Got You”
2005
> Cost of a date: $66.27
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $12.82
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $53.45
> Best love song: Mariah Carey – “We Belong Together”
2006
> Cost of a date: $68.21
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $13.10
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $55.11
> Best love song: James Blunt – “You’re Beautiful”
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2007
> Cost of a date: $70.87
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $13.76
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $57.11
> Best love song: Plain White T’s – “Hey There Delilah”
2008
> Cost of a date: $73.99
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $14.36
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $59.63
> Best love song: Leona Lewis – “Bleeding Love”
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2009
> Cost of a date: $76.70
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $15.00
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $61.70
> Best love song: Taylor Swift – “Love Story”
2010
> Cost of a date: $78.27
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $15.78
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $62.49
> Best love song: B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars – “Nothin’ On You”
2011
> Cost of a date: $79.81
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $15.86
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $63.95
> Best love song: Bruno Mars – “Just The Way You Are”
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2012
> Cost of a date: $81.69
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $15.92
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $65.77
> Best love song: Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
2013
> Cost of a date: $83.44
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $16.26
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $67.18
> Best love song: Justin Timberlake – “Mirrors”
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2014
> Cost of a date: $85.15
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $16.34
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $68.81
> Best love song: John Legend – “All of Me”
2015
> Cost of a date: $87.64
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $16.86
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $70.78
> Best love song: Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
2016
> Cost of a date: $89.90
> Avg. cost of two movie tickets: $17.30
> Avg. cost of dinner for two: $72.60
> Best love song: Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla – “One Dance”
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