With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and America’s sweethearts planning to spend $21.8 billion on the holiday even with COVID-19 limiting celebrations, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best Places for Valentine’s Day, as well as accompanying videos, along with its nationally representative 2021 Valentine’s Day Spending Survey.
As the saying goes, “money can’t buy love.” But it certainly can express it.
This year, Americans collectively will spend more than $21.8 billion on Valentine’s day gifts — from greeting cards to jewelry to a special night out — with the average lovebird shelling out $164.76.
You don’t need to empty your wallet just to show your romantic side, though.
Depending on where you go and what you do, a sweet evening can be inexpensive and still have the same quality.
Plus, staying in may be the better choice this year, given the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that we’re still a few months away from widespread vaccination.
To determine the most romantic yet affordable cities for celebrating the Day of Hearts, WalletHub compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across 14 key metrics, ranging from florists per capita to COVID-19 cases to high-quality takeout food.
| Top 20 Places for Valentine’s Day 2021 | |
| 1. San Francisco, CA | 11. Fremont, CA |
| 2. Honolulu, HI | 12. Raleigh, NC |
| 3. Portland, OR | 13. Virginia Beach, VA |
| 4. Seattle, WA | 14. Kansas City, MO |
| 5. San Jose, CA | 15. Atlanta, GA |
| 6. San Diego, CA | 16. Houston, TX |
| 7. Austin, TX | 17. Durham, NC |
| 8. Oakland, CA | 18. Plano, TX |
| 9. Orlando, FL | 19. Cincinnati, OH |
| 10. Sacramento, CA | 20. Denver, CO |
Valentine’s Day Spending Survey – Key Stats
- Some People Want Love More Than Health. 50% of people would rather get shot by Cupid’s arrow than the COVID-19 vaccine.
- More Men Say V-Day Debt is Worth it: Men are nearly two times more likely than women to think a Valentine’s Day gift is worth going into credit card debt.
- Bad Credit Might Keep You Single. 47% of people wouldn’t marry someone with bad credit.
- Reckless Spending Ends Relationships: 47% of people would break up with their significant other if he or she spent irresponsibly.
- Financial Irresponsibility Isn’t Attractive: 44% of people say irresponsible spending is a bigger turnoff than bad breath.
- Love is Blooming for Some People. 48% of people say they got richer in love since last Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day Facts
- $21.8 Billion: Total Valentine’s Day spending projected for 2021 ($164.76 per person celebrating).
- $231 vs. $101: Men will spend more than twice as much as women, on average, for Valentine’s Day 2021.
- $8.1 Billion: Amount Americans will spend on jewelry ($4.1B), flowers ($2B), and candy ($2B).
- 1 in 6: Marriages begin online.
- 33%: Overall online dating activity increase across the US between February 1 and February 14.
