Grow Your Business, Not Your Inbox

Stay informed and join our daily newsletter now!


1 min read


This story originally appeared on CNBC


Looking to have a romantic Valentine’s Day this year? It could set you back a few hundred dollars.

From roses and jewelry to dinner and champagne, Valentine’s Day can be a costly affair, according to Bankrate.com.

The company compared prices for a handful of Valentine staples to determine just how much the average American spends on Feb. 14.

The answer? $512.02.

“For most couples, the expectation is there regardless of what the economic situation is,” Ron Hill, a professor at the Villanova University, said in a statement. “Love is one of the few things that we think has that infinite value.”

Here’s a break down of the average prices for a typical Valentine bundle, according to Bankrate.com:

  • A dozen roses — $41.66
  • A heart-shaped box of chocolates — $15.11
  • Fine dining for two — $80.46
  • A bottle of champagne — $51.54
  • Diamond earrings — $323.26

This is the first year that Bankrate has run this index, as such there is no way to track how this year’s expenses compare to previous years.