2023's Best Places for Valentine’s Day

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterFeb 7, 2023

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Feb 7, 2023

As the saying goes, “money can’t buy love.” But it certainly can express it. This year, Americans collectively will spend $25.9 billion on Valentine’s day gifts — from greeting cards to jewelry to a special night out — with the average lovebird shelling out $193.

But you don’t need to empty your wallet just to show your romantic side. Depending on where you go and what you do, a sweet evening can be inexpensive and still have the same quality. You just need to be in the right place with the right budget.

With love in the air, WalletHub played cupid to determine the most romantic and cost-effective cities for celebrating Valentine’s Day. We compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across 26 key metrics, ranging from florists per capita to forecasted precipitation to cost of a three-course meal for two.

For interesting stats about the holiday, check out WalletHub’s Valentine’s Day Fun Facts infographic.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Places to Go on Valentine’s Day

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Budget	Activities	Gift Accessibility	Weather Forecast
1	San Francisco, CA	83.35	3	2	7	23
2	Seattle, WA	75.91	5	6	12	77
3	San Diego, CA	74.75	11	12	8	12
4	Las Vegas, NV	73.41	38	10	1	19
5	Portland, OR	72.49	14	9	10	57
6	Scottsdale, AZ	72.35	6	34	14	5
7	Honolulu, HI	71.04	47	11	4	33
8	Orlando, FL	69.70	71	4	2	40
9	Denver, CO	69.23	13	15	16	59
10	Washington, DC	69.05	18	5	24	39
11	San Jose, CA	67.54	4	41	34	28
12	New York, NY	67.19	67	7	9	25
13	Atlanta, GA	67.06	53	19	5	67
14	Austin, TX	66.00	15	24	20	71
15	Chicago, IL	65.89	58	3	6	90
16	Los Angeles, CA	63.94	74	13	11	12
17	Phoenix, AZ	61.28	39	50	21	6
18	Boston, MA	61.28	33	14	25	80
19	Fremont, CA	60.65	2	73	97	22
20	Virginia Beach, VA	60.54	12	55	45	31
21	Gilbert, AZ	60.29	1	92	95	1
22	Colorado Springs, CO	60.06	21	47	43	12
23	Minneapolis, MN	59.98	24	20	33	81
24	Tampa, FL	59.86	72	23	17	37
25	Raleigh, NC	59.64	22	39	44	33
26	Pittsburgh, PA	59.58	68	17	13	91
27	Charlotte, NC	59.32	28	45	30	46
28	Sacramento, CA	59.14	45	35	28	38
29	San Antonio, TX	58.52	63	29	22	68
30	Irvine, CA	58.28	10	72	68	25
31	Plano, TX	57.91	8	75	60	75
32	Miami, FL	57.89	95	1	3	49
33	Houston, TX	57.58	79	21	18	64
34	Chandler, AZ	57.42	9	83	81	1
35	Oakland, CA	57.05	31	32	57	23
36	Anaheim, CA	56.55	20	51	78	19
37	Albuquerque, NM	56.18	70	38	26	51
38	Reno, NV	56.01	29	48	51	53
39	St. Petersburg, FL	55.99	40	40	48	40
40	Dallas, TX	55.86	76	33	19	71
41	Jersey City, NJ	55.64	17	54	83	25
42	Boise, ID	55.38	25	64	53	55
43	Santa Ana, CA	55.06	26	71	72	12
44	Omaha, NE	54.58	32	42	75	47
45	Durham, NC	54.18	34	52	70	30
46	Fort Worth, TX	53.96	27	66	58	61
47	El Paso, TX	53.90	48	43	55	58
48	Nashville, TN	53.87	44	30	31	100
49	St. Louis, MO	53.51	83	16	15	98
50	Tucson, AZ	53.51	84	26	29	11
51	Chula Vista, CA	53.49	19	81	96	9
52	Oklahoma City, OK	53.41	37	61	52	61
53	Chesapeake, VA	53.21	7	97	93	40
54	Anchorage, AK	52.30	16	65	67	97
55	Jacksonville, FL	52.27	69	59	41	40
56	St. Paul, MN	51.65	59	37	50	79
57	Bakersfield, CA	51.65	30	91	80	18
58	Glendale, AZ	51.32	42	84	88	1
59	Kansas City, MO	51.25	51	58	73	59
60	Stockton, CA	51.16	36	95	66	29
61	Aurora, CO	51.12	23	80	90	54
62	Columbus, OH	51.09	56	46	42	95
63	Henderson, NV	51.09	35	82	91	7
64	Baltimore, MD	50.99	85	25	36	32
65	Madison, WI	50.79	50	36	74	82
66	Long Beach, CA	50.60	78	44	56	12
67	Mesa, AZ	50.59	54	86	79	1
68	Wichita, KS	50.33	49	85	71	52
69	Philadelphia, PA	50.24	87	18	27	68
70	Riverside, CA	50.15	61	88	69	9
71	Tulsa, OK	49.62	66	76	47	75
72	Lincoln, NE	49.45	55	67	86	47
73	New Orleans, LA	48.29	93	8	32	56
74	Cincinnati, OH	48.19	88	22	23	93
75	Corpus Christi, TX	47.98	52	90	77	68
76	Lexington-Fayette, KY	47.81	57	70	54	93
77	Fresno, CA	47.55	80	77	62	21
78	Indianapolis, IN	47.51	75	53	39	92
79	Greensboro, NC	47.36	77	62	63	36
80	Norfolk, VA	47.27	73	56	84	40
81	Arlington, TX	47.11	46	89	87	78
82	Irving, TX	46.77	41	93	94	61
83	Laredo, TX	45.90	43	68	89	64
84	Louisville, KY	45.64	81	49	38	99
85	Fort Wayne, IN	45.39	64	94	61	83
86	Milwaukee, WI	44.50	86	27	59	89
87	Lubbock, TX	44.47	60	99	85	71
88	Garland, TX	43.80	65	96	100	71
89	Winston-Salem, NC	43.65	82	60	82	50
90	North Las Vegas, NV	42.13	62	100	99	12
91	Baton Rouge, LA	40.86	90	79	46	64
92	Buffalo, NY	40.23	94	28	35	84
93	San Bernardino, CA	38.30	92	98	64	7
94	Memphis, TN	37.08	91	78	49	96
95	Hialeah, FL	35.49	97	57	65	40
96	Birmingham, AL	34.30	96	69	40	88
97	Toledo, OH	34.27	89	87	92	84
98	Cleveland, OH	30.27	100	31	37	84
99	Newark, NJ	29.57	99	63	98	33
100	Detroit, MI	27.98	98	74	76	87

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Three-Course Meal for Two

Cheapest

Cheapest
1. Gilbert, AZ
2. Fremont, CA
3. Glendale, AZ
4. Plano, TX
5. Chandler, AZ

Most Expensive

Most Expensive
95. Baton Rouge, LA
96. Newark, NJ
97. Buffalo, NY
98. Miami, FL
99. Cleveland, OH

Jewelry Stores per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Honolulu, HI
4. Tampa, FL
5. Miami, FL

Fewest

Fewest
96. San Bernardino, CA
97. Gilbert, AZ
98. Fremont, CA
99. North Las Vegas, NV
100. Henderson, NV

Florists per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
4. Honolulu, HI
5. Atlanta, GA

Fewest

Fewest
96. Chesapeake, VA
97. Aurora, CO
98. Gilbert, TX
99. Henderson, NV
100. Garland, TX

Chocolate Shops per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. New York, NY
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
T-1. San Francisco, CA
5. Seattle, WA

Fewest

Fewest
95. Laredo, TX
96. Omaha, NE
97. San Bernardino, CA
98. Garland, TX
99. Lubbock, TX

Weather Forecast for Valentine's Day

Best

Best
T-1. Mesa, AZ
T-1. Glendale, AZ
T-1. Chandler, AZ
T-1. Gilbert, AZ
5. Scottsdale, AZ

Worst

Worst
96. Memphis, TN
97. Anchorage, AK
98. St. Louis, MO
99. Louisville, KY
100. Nashville, TN

Ask the Experts

Planning a date or buying gifts on Valentine’s Day shouldn’t break the bank. You can display your affection for that special someone while remaining smart about your finances. To help consumers stay within their budgets this year, we turned to a panel of experts for their thoughts on the following key questions:

What are some tips for celebrating Valentine’s Day on a budget?
In evaluating the best places for Valentine’s Day, what are the top five indicators?
Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year – how might this impact how people plan to celebrate?
Who spends more on Valentine’s Day, men or women?
What post-Valentine’s Day deals should savvy shoppers take advantage of?

Ask the Experts

Scott Hammond
Professor of Practice in the Department of Management, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business – Utah State University
Read More

Mark S. Rosenbaum
Ph.D. – Dean, College of Business – Hawaii Pacific University
Read More

Emily A. Goenner
Instructor of Business Communication, Marketing Department, Herberger Business School – St. Cloud State University
Read More

Aniruddha Pangarkar
Assistant Professor of Marketing, The Austin E. Cofrin School of Business – University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Read More

C. Samuel Craig
Professor of Marketing Emeritus – New York University's Stern School of Business
Read More

Kiran Karande
Professor, Department of Marketing – Old Dominion University
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for Valentine’s Day, WalletHub compared 100 of the most populated cities across four key dimensions: 1) Budget, 2) Activities, 3) Gift Accessibility and 4) Weather Forecast. Our sample considers only city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the four dimensions using 26 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for celebrating Valentine’s Day. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Budget – Total Points: 50

Note: All of the following cost metrics were adjusted for the median household income of the city.

Cost of Three-Course Meal for Two: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: We assumed that the cost of a three-course meal for two would increase proportionally across all cities on Valentine’s Day.
Prevalence of Affordable 4.5+ Star Restaurants: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Prevalence of Affordable 4.5+ Star Valentine Gift Opportunities: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This is a composite metric which includes the following Valentine Gift Opportunities: a) Jewelry; b) Florists; c) Chocolate Shops; d) Cards & Stationery and e) Gift Shops.
Average Movie-Ticket Price: Full Weight (5.00 Points)
Average Beverage Price: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: “Beverage” refers to wine, beer and cocktail prices.
Beauty-Salon Costs: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Massage Costs: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Taxi-Fare Cost: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Lowest Price for Three-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (5.00 Points)
Note: In 2018, 26 percent of U.S. adults prefer a romantic Valentine’s getaway as a gift, according to a Wakefield Research survey. “Hotel Room” refers to a standard room.

Activities – Total Points: 20

Restaurants per Capita*: Double Weight (~3.64 Points)
Diversity of Restaurants: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Cafés per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, museums, cultural performances and zoos.
Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Walkability: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Amusement & Entertainment: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
Share of Romantic Hotels: Full Weight (~1.82 Points)
Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19: Double Weight (~3.64 Points)

Gift Accessibility – Total Points: 20

Jewelry Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Florists per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Chocolate Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Greeting-Card Stores & Gift Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Wellness & Spa Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Google Search Index for “Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas”: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures search interest for “valentine's gifts for him”, “valentine's gifts for her”, “valentine's day cards”, “valentine's day flowers” and “valentine's chocolate”.

Weather Forecast – Total Points: 10

Difference Between Forecasted and Normal Temperatures on Valentine’s Day: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: For this metric, the city was penalized if its forecasted temperature on Valentine’s Day is colder than the holiday’s average temperature.
Forecasted Precipitation for Valentine’s Day: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Numbeo, Kayak.com, Google Ads, Walkscore.com, Yelp, TripAdvisor, AccuWeather, MassageBook, Expatistan and WalletHub research.

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Questions & Answers(10 questions)

Are American Express personal loans legit?

Upvote

Adam McCann, Financial Writer

Yes, American Express personal loans are legit because American Express is registered to do business in the states it services, which is a legal requirement to be a legitimate lender. Another reason why American Express personal loans are legit is that the lender has a rating of A+ from the Better Business Bureau. The company also is accredited with the Bureau.

Why American Express Personal Loans Are Legit

American Express is registered as a business in the states it services.
American Express has a Better Business Bureau rating of A+.
American Express has been around since 1850.
American Express has an average user rating of 3.9/5 on WalletHub.
American Express personal loans have a rating of 4.5/5 from WalletHub's editors.
American Express has a secure website, which you can tell by the fact that the URL has "https" in front of it.

While American Express personal loans are legit, they may or not be the best choice for you. It's important to compare the terms and requirements of American Express personal loans against your other options before submitting an application

What are the best places to get a personal loan?

Upvotes

Adam McCann, Financial Writer

The best places to get a personal loan are banks, credit unions and online lenders. The best place for you to get your personal loan is whichever lender will approve you for the best package of key terms: loan amount, interest rate, repayment period and fees. You can get a sense of which lender that will be by comparing personal loan offers and checking for pre-qualification, both of which are free and will not affect your credit.

Best Places to Get a Personal Loan in 2023

Lender	Pros	Cons
Bank	Big loans, in-person applications, and likely to have no origination fee	High credit score requirements
Credit union	Low maximum APRs, in-person applications, and many work with bad credit	Membership required and most credit unions are regional
Online lender	Fastest approval and funding timelines with plenty of options for bad credit	High maximum APRs and many have origination fees

View entire answer

Is American Express hard to get approved for?

Upvotes

Grace Enfield, Content Writer

Yes, a personal loan from American Express is hard to get approved for because you need to be an existing customer of American Express with a credit score of 660+ or higher to qualify. You also need to have enough income to afford the loan, be at least 18+ and have a valid bank account. Even if you meet all the requirements, approval is never guaranteed.

Requirements to Get Approved by American Express

Credit Score: 660+
Income: Not disclosed
Age: 18+
Citizenship: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Identification: Social Security number
Bank Account: Verifiable AmEx bank account
Residency: All states

For more information, check out the full American Express personal loan review on WalletHub.

How long does it take to get approved for a American Express personal loan?

Upvotes

Grace Enfield, Content Writer

American Express may approve you for a personal loan the same day you apply or within 1 business day. After your application is approved and you accept the offer, it takes 3 to 5 business days to receive your funds, which American Express will send to you by electronic bank transfer.

Key Things to Know About American Express Loan Approval

Minimum Credit Score: 660+
Approval Timeline: 1 business day
Funding Timeline: 3-5 business days
Fund Delivery Method: Electronic bank transfer
Loan Amount: $3,500 - $40,000
APR: 6.98% - 19.98%
Repayment Period: 12, 24 or 36 months
Origination Fee: $0

If you think a American Express loan is right for you, check out the full American Express personal loan review on WalletHub. You can also estimate your potential rates with our free pre-qualification tool.

Does American Express do a hard inquiry for personal loans?

Upvotes

Gino Rodriguez, Writer

No, American Express does not do a hard inquiry when you apply for a personal loan. American Express only performs a soft inquiry during the approval process, so you don't have to worry about the loan application hurting your credit score.

Keep in mind that you must already be an American Express cardholder to qualify for a personal loan from Amex. The lack of a hard inquiry is a perk that comes with being a cardholder, as most lenders perform a hard inquiry when you apply for a loan.

A hard inquiry can drop your credit score by 5-10 points and stay on your credit report for up to two years, though it won't affect your credit after one year. To see how your individual credit score may be affected by a hard inquiry, you can use the credit score simulator on WalletHub.

Does American Express do debt consolidation loans?

Upvotes

Adam McCann, Financial Writer

Yes, American Express does offer debt consolidation loans. You can take out a personal loan from American Express and use it to pay off existing debts, thus consolidating those debts into a single new balance with one monthly payment that you must make to American Express. American Express does not specifically refer to their loans as "debt consolidation loans," so you'll need to take out a general-purpose personal loan..

Quick Facts About American Express Debt Consolidation Loans

APR: 6.98% - 19.98%
Origination fee: $0
Loan amount: $3,500 - $25,000
Payoff period: 12, 24 or 36 months
Credit score required: 660

Keep in mind that a debt consolidation loan from American Express will be worthwhile if it saves you money compared to the interest rates you are paying on your existing debts. In addition to the loan's APR, you should also consider any potential fees, as well as the available loan amounts and payoff periods.

Before you apply for an American Express debt consolidation loan, it's a good idea to compare it to WalletHub's editors' picks for the best debt consolidation loans. That way, you'll be able to see how the offer stacks up against loans from leading competitors.

How do I know if American Express approved me for a loan?

Upvotes

Gino Rodriguez, Writer

You will know if American Express approved you because you will receive an application decision via email. American Express may approve you as early as the same day you apply, or within 1 business day, depending on the type of product you apply for.

You can check your application status online or going into a branch in the meantime. Just keep in mind that approval for a American Express loan or credit card is never guaranteed.

How can I check my American Express loan status?

Upvotes

Gino Rodriguez, Writer

You can check your American Express loan status by logging in to your account online or going into a branch. When you check the status of your American Express loan application, you will find out whether you have been approved or denied, or if the application is still pending. You may also learn that more information is needed from you before American Express can make a final decision.

How to Check Your American Express Loan Status

Online: You can check your American Express loan status by logging into your online account with your username and password. American Express may send you an email with your login information, or you will have to create your own account.
Over the phone: You can check the status of your American Express loan by calling 844-273-1384 and speaking to a representative.
In person: You can speak directly to a customer service representative about the status of your loan application by going into an American Express branch.

You can expect American Express to make a decision as soon as same day after you submit your application or within a few days. For more information about American Express, check out WalletHub's full review of American Express personal loans.

Does American Express give instant approval for personal loans?

Upvotes

Grace Enfield, Content Writer

American Express doesn't give instant approval for personal loans, but they may approve you the same day you apply. If they need to verify any of your information, the approval process may take a little longer, but you can expect to get the funds within 3-5 business days after you're approved and you accept the offer.

Key Things to Know About American Express Personal Loan Approval

Minimum credit score: 660+
Minimum income: Not disclosed
Approval timeline: 1 business day
Funding timeline: 3-5 business days after approval
Age requirement: 18+
Citizenship requirement: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Residency requirement: All states

For more information, check out the full American Express personal loan review on WalletHub.

How much can you borrow from American Express with a personal loan?

Upvotes

Grace Enfield, Content Writer

You can borrow $3,500 - $40,000 from American Express with a personal loan, depending on your credit score, income, employment status and other factors. American Express personal loans also have APRs of 6.98% - 19.98%, based on your overall creditworthiness, and repayment periods of 12, 24 or 36 months. You will need to have a credit score of 660+ to qualify.

Key Things to Know About American Express Personal Loans

Loan amounts: $3,500 - $40,000
APRs: 6.98% - 19.98%
Repayment periods: 12, 24 or 36 months
Credit score requirement: 660+
Funding timeline: 3 - 8 business days after approval
Origination fee: $0
Late fee: $39

For more information, check out the full American Express personal loan review on WalletHub.

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