I Asked ChatGPT How To Go on a Date for Less Than $50 — It Gave Me 5 Great Dates

Every generation finds themselves facing hurdles unique to their era. The young adults born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s — better known as Gen Z — are coming of age during a time of extremely high cost of living, to the point that many are compelled to change how they live, how they socialize and how they date.

A 2025 Bank of America study found that more than half of all men and women in Gen Z have pivoted to the “$0 date,” a trend in which little-to-no spending is done on a romantic outing. For some, though, that might seem impossible — what if your date gets hungry? What if the two of you get bored?

That’s why MoneyLion turned to ChatGPT for a solution, asking the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot to craft a series of dates, all of which could be had for $50 or less.

ChatGPT's Suggestions for Great, Cheap Dates for Under $50

1. Coffee, Bookstore and a Walk

• Approximately $25 to $35

As ChatGPT noted, the trick here is not to find the cheapest date per se, but to finding a date that feels intentional and doesn’t come at a high cost.

With that in mind its first recommendation was to start with coffee and conversation at a local café, which likely costs $10 to $15.

Then wander through a bookstore or record shop. Give each other about five or 10 minutes to find the weirdest book or the album that changed your life, or something you’d recommend to the other in order to spur more getting-to-know-you conversation.

Finally, finish the date off with a nice walk through a nearby park or downtown area.

This date works because conversation, not spending, becomes the entertainment.

2. Farmers Market Picnic

• Approximately $30 to $45

A farmers market visit allows you and a date to shop affordably for things like bread, fruit, cheese, pastries and snacks instead of big restaurant meals.

Bring a blanket along and you can whip up a picnic at a nearby park. Now you’ve got an intimate dinner date that beats any pricey restaurant.

3. Happy Hour Challenge

• Approximately $35 to $50

Or, instead of a dinner at all, consider a happy hour meet. Many restaurants offer discount appetizers and drinks before the dinner rush.

So create a fun challenge for the date: Each of you order one thing you’ve never tried. Trying something new together is often more memorable than ordering big expensive entrées that are old favorites.

4. Free Museum with Dessert

• Approximately $20 to $40

Many museums offer free evenings or only require suggested donations for entry. Take your date to a museum, walk and talk, and then spend your money afterward on some ice cream or a coffee. Put a premium on the experience, rather than an expensive meal.

5. Sunset Date

• Approximately $15 to $30

Here’s a fast and easy idea: Grab two takeout sandwiches. Drive — or better yet, walk — to somewhere with a good sunset view. Leave your phones in your pockets, eat, talk and take in a beautiful view.

The Bottom Line

A good date isn’t good because it’s expensive; it can be good because it creates opportunities to talk, laugh and learn something about the other person. You can easily do that for $50 or less and actually have a more meaningful time. If an AI platform like ChatGPT can figure that out, so can we.

Editor’s note: Prices and availability may vary depending on location, and are subject to change. This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. The research, writing and data analysis were handled by our editorial team. The formatting of the data alone was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy; however, AI-generated content may be inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated. You should independently verify important information through reliable sources before making any decisions based on this content.