Best Places for Valentine’s Day (2026)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterFeb 4, 2026

Best Places for Valentine’s Day

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They say money can’t buy love, but it can certainly help express it. This Valentine’s Day, Americans are expected to spend a record $29.1 billion on gifts, from greeting cards and jewelry to a special night out, with the average person shelling out $200.

But showing your romantic side doesn’t have to break the bank. With the right spot and a thoughtful plan, a memorable evening can be both affordable and special.

To help couples make the most of the holiday, WalletHub analyzed 100 of the largest U.S. cities to identify the most romantic and cost-effective destinations for Valentine’s Day. Cities were compared across 25 key metrics, including florists per capita, forecasted precipitation, and the cost of a three-course meal for two.

For more fun and surprising Valentine’s Day stats, check out WalletHub’s Valentine’s Day Fun Facts infographic.

“It’s common to spoil your partner on Valentine’s Day, but inflation can certainly put a damper on those plans. Fortunately, the best cities for Valentine’s Day offer a wide variety of affordable date activities, food options and places to buy gifts, so you can show that you care without breaking the bank. It’s never a good idea to go into debt just to enjoy a holiday or give a gift.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Places to Go on Valentine’s Day

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Budget Rank	Activities Rank	Gift Accessibility Rank	Weather Forecast Rank
1	San Francisco, CA	78.33	5	2	7	93
2	San Diego, CA	74.80	9	20	12	50
3	Las Vegas, NV	74.32	33	4	6	59
4	Atlanta, GA	73.72	36	11	2	37
5	Seattle, WA	72.54	8	10	8	99
6	Denver, CO	72.44	16	21	14	27
7	Pittsburgh, PA	71.00	46	19	5	3
8	Scottsdale, AZ	70.61	10	31	15	44
9	Portland, OR	70.10	15	8	9	99
10	Washington, DC	68.86	26	12	32	28
11	Orlando, FL	68.75	49	6	3	91
12	Austin, TX	68.57	17	17	16	81
13	Chicago, IL	67.53	52	7	13	66
14	Honolulu, HI	67.20	68	14	4	41
15	San Jose, CA	65.51	3	65	46	74
16	Tampa, FL	65.34	40	22	22	67
17	Boston, MA	65.21	55	13	23	36
18	Colorado Springs, CO	64.57	24	39	42	1
19	Phoenix, AZ	64.24	22	41	27	59
20	Cincinnati, OH	64.14	78	23	10	3
21	Virginia Beach, VA	64.13	11	60	41	30
22	Nashville, TN	63.86	43	26	30	22
23	Houston, TX	63.85	72	15	17	14
24	Sacramento, CA	61.97	23	35	24	92
25	Plano, TX	61.91	7	48	51	83
26	Los Angeles, CA	61.88	70	16	20	54
27	New York, NY	61.41	85	9	18	22
28	Irvine, CA	60.62	4	84	76	43
29	Charlotte, NC	60.55	47	40	28	39
30	Raleigh, NC	60.36	35	52	40	39
31	Anchorage, AK	60.19	19	50	64	21
32	Albuquerque, NM	59.90	44	45	21	69
33	Gilbert, AZ	59.76	2	91	89	44
34	St. Louis, MO	59.39	92	5	11	15
35	Louisville, KY	59.24	57	37	38	3
36	Dallas, TX	59.13	64	27	19	77
37	Fort Worth, TX	59.09	13	54	54	70
38	Minneapolis, MN	59.05	45	24	33	84
39	Miami, FL	58.89	93	1	1	58
40	Indianapolis, IN	58.87	56	44	36	16
41	Chandler, AZ	58.29	6	87	80	44
42	Columbus, OH	57.00	62	46	44	3
43	San Antonio, TX	56.47	74	32	25	76
44	Fremont, CA	56.19	1	95	96	89
45	Omaha, NE	56.02	39	36	55	86
46	Reno, NV	56.00	27	47	48	97
47	Henderson, NV	55.95	18	66	83	42
48	Baltimore, MD	55.66	84	25	35	22
49	Jersey City, NJ	54.59	20	64	88	65
50	Aurora, CO	54.47	12	85	90	8
51	Durham, NC	54.30	38	74	81	16
52	St. Paul, MN	53.92	48	38	56	80
53	Boise, ID	53.77	28	55	57	98
54	Riverside, CA	53.69	25	86	75	62
55	Mesa, AZ	53.56	32	80	72	44
56	Anaheim, CA	53.54	31	76	73	54
57	Jacksonville, FL	53.38	76	59	34	53
58	Chesapeake, VA	53.20	14	94	92	32
59	Bakersfield, CA	53.19	29	79	82	62
60	New Orleans, LA	53.13	94	3	29	2
61	Philadelphia, PA	53.09	91	18	31	16
62	Tulsa, OK	52.97	60	61	39	82
63	Glendale, AZ	52.32	37	82	85	44
64	Lexington-Fayette, KY	51.90	65	69	60	3
65	St. Petersburg, FL	51.79	75	34	50	67
66	Greensboro, NC	51.78	58	71	65	30
67	Oklahoma City, OK	51.64	51	58	52	90
68	Oakland, CA	51.61	41	51	63	93
69	Long Beach, CA	51.30	71	43	59	54
70	Kansas City, MO	51.29	69	42	53	71
71	Tucson, AZ	50.83	86	28	26	96
72	Santa Ana, CA	50.78	42	77	84	50
73	Chula Vista, CA	49.85	21	99	95	50
74	El Paso, TX	49.81	81	57	58	32
75	Wichita, KS	49.39	59	68	62	73
76	Corpus Christi, TX	48.94	66	83	74	26
77	Milwaukee, WI	48.71	82	29	61	88
78	Stockton, CA	48.48	30	96	66	95
79	Madison, WI	48.06	63	56	69	87
80	Memphis, TN	47.60	88	63	47	12
81	Birmingham, AL	47.60	89	53	43	22
82	Fresno, CA	47.16	67	70	67	74
83	Fort Wayne, IN	46.48	73	89	68	64
84	Arlington, TX	46.44	53	81	87	79
85	Norfolk, VA	46.21	80	72	86	32
86	Lincoln, NE	45.94	61	75	78	84
87	Lubbock, TX	45.09	77	90	79	32
88	Buffalo, NY	44.39	97	30	37	20
89	Irving, TX	44.34	50	92	93	72
90	North Las Vegas, NV	43.51	34	93	100	59
91	Winston-Salem, NC	43.37	87	73	77	37
92	Laredo, TX	43.34	79	100	91	8
93	Garland, TX	42.38	54	98	99	77
94	Cleveland, OH	42.13	98	33	49	10
95	Baton Rouge, LA	41.68	96	62	45	12
96	San Bernardino, CA	39.88	83	97	98	54
97	Newark, NJ	38.32	90	67	97	28
98	Toledo, OH	34.68	95	78	94	16
99	Detroit, MI	31.35	100	49	71	10
100	Hialeah, FL	28.25	99	88	70	49

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. Fremont, CA
2. Garland, TX
3. Henderson, NV
4. Gilbert, AZ
5. Plano, TX

Most Expensive

Most Expensive
95. New York, NY
96. Hialeah, FL
97. Buffalo, NY
98. Detroit, MI
99. New Orleans, LA

Jewelry Stores per Capita

Most

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

Fewest

Fewest
96. New York, NY
97. San Bernardino, CA
98. Chesapeake, VA
99. Fremont, CA
100. North Las Vegas, NV

Florists per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. St. Louis, MO
T-1. Pittsburgh, PA
5. Miami, FL

Fewest

Fewest
96. Henderson, NV
97. Gilbert, AZ
98. Fremont, CA
99. Irving, TX
100. Garland, TX

Chocolate Shops per Capita

Most

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

Fewest

Fewest
95. Garland, TX
96. Laredo, TX
97. Lubbock, TX
98. Minneapolis, MN
99. San Bernardino, CA

Weather Forecast for Valentine

Best

Best
1. Colorado Springs, CO
2. New Orleans, LA
T-3. Columbus, OH
T-3. Louisville, KY
T-3. Lexington-Fayette, KY

Worst

Worst
96. Tucson, AZ
97. Reno, NV
98. Boise, ID
T-99. Portland, OR
T-99. Seattle, WA

In-Depth Look at the Best Places for Valentine’s Day

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is the best place for celebrating Valentine’s Day, in part due to the fact that it has the highest prevalence of affordable restaurants, florists and second-highest gift shops rated at least 4.5 stars. That covers dinner and presents – but the city is also perfect for dates, with an extremely high number of attractions.

If you want to take a romantic stroll on Valentine’s Day, you’ll benefit from the fact that San Francisco ranks as the most walkable city. And for those who like to drink, it surprisingly has one of the lowest costs for beer and wine, when adjusted for the median household income.

Even if you’re just a new couple and plan to go with some basic cards and chocolate to celebrate, the Golden Gate City tops the list when it comes to card shops and chocolatiers per capita.

San Diego, CA

San Diego is the second-best city for Valentine’s Day, rounding out the list with another win for the west coast. If you want to pamper your Valentine, you could take them on a spa date, since the city has one of the highest number of wellness and spa centers per capita in the country.

America’s Finest City, as it’s often called, also has a high Google search interest for Valentine’s-Day related terms, and an abundance of affordable restaurants, jewelers and florists. Plus, if you’re looking for a unique place to eat that will make the day memorable, San Diego’s restaurant options are more diverse than those of most other cities.

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas isn’t just the city of dazzling lights and unforgettable nights – it’s also the third-best city to be in on Valentine’s Day. For those who want to spoil their partner, it has the highest prevalence of affordable jewelry shops rated at least 4.5 stars, plus also ranks at the top for affordable restaurants and florists.

Residents of the Neon City also search for keywords relating to Valentine’s Day gifts, flowers, cards and chocolate more often than people in most other cities, which shows that they care about the holiday and want to make it special.

Tips for Saving Money on Valentine’s Day

Plan a homemade dinner date: Instead of dining out at an expensive restaurant, opt for a cozy homemade dinner date. Cook together and enjoy a romantic meal at home, saving money while creating memories.
Give personalized DIY gifts: Get creative and make personalized DIY gifts, such as handwritten love letters, photo albums, or handmade crafts. These heartfelt gestures not only save money but also demonstrate thoughtfulness and effort.
Explore free or low-cost activities: Consider inexpensive or free activities to celebrate Valentine's Day, such as picnics in the park, stargazing, or scenic nature walks. Enjoying quality time together without spending extravagantly can be just as meaningful.
Set a budget and stick to it: Establish a budget for Valentine's Day celebrations and make sure not to exceed it. Plan activities and gifts within your budgetary constraints, avoiding unnecessary expenses and financial strain. Going into debt just to have a better holiday isn’t worth it.
Plan ahead for discounts and deals: Buying your gifts early gives you more time to take advantage of sales and special deals from merchants. It also gives you more time to plan out a gift that’s thoughtful.

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 Saturday this year – how might this impact how people plan to celebrate?
Who spends more on Valentine’s Day, men or women? What do you think is the reason behind this trend?
What post-Valentine’s Day deals should savvy shoppers take advantage of?

Ask the Experts

Kathleen Vohs
Land O'Lakes Chair in Marketing, Distinguished McKnight University Professor - University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management
Read More

Andrew Burnstine
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, College of Business and Management - Lynn University
Read More

Irene Leech
Associate Professor, Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences – Virginia Tech
Read More

Dr. Yuliya Strizhakova
Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing; Director, Business Honors; Associate Editor, Journal of International Marketing; Associate Editor, Journal of Business Research; Area Editor, Journal of Global Marketing – School of Business – Camden, Rutgers University
Read More

Andrew Burnstine
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, College of Business and Management – Lynn University
Read More

Jamie Lambert
Associate Professor of Instruction of Marketing; Ohio International Consulting Program Director – Ohio University College of Business
Read More

More Experts

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 25 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 (~4.44 Points)
Diversity of Restaurants: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Cafés per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, museums, cultural performances and zoos.
Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Walkability: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Amusement & Entertainment: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
Share of Romantic Hotels: Full Weight (~2.22 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 as of January 7, 2026 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Numbeo, Kayak.com, Google Ads, Walkscore.com, Yelp, TripAdvisor, AccuWeather, MassageBook, Expatistan and WalletHub research.

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Questions & Answers(11 questions)

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Are American Express personal loans legit?

Adam McCann, Financial Writer

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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

Upvotes

What are the best places to get a personal loan?

Adam McCann, Financial Writer

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Best Places to Get a Personal Loan in 2026

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

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Is American Express hard to get approved for?

Grace Enfield, Content Writer

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Requirements to Get Approved by American Express

...

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

Grace Enfield, Content Writer

American Express may approve you for a personal loan in seconds. After your application is approved and you accept the offer, it takes three to five business days to receive your funds, which American Express will send to you by electronic bank transfer.

Key Things to Know About American Express Personal Loans

Minimum Credit Score: 660+
Approval Timeline: 1 business day
Funding Timeline: 3-5 business days
Fund Delivery Method: ...

Upvotes

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Gino Rodriguez, Writer

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A hard inquiry can drop your credit score...

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Does American Express do debt consolidation loans?

Adam McCann, Financial Writer

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Quick Facts About American Express Debt...

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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...

Upvotes

How can I check my American Express loan status?

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...

Upvotes

Does American Express give instant approval?

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: ...

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

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 6.99% - 19.97%, based on your overall creditworthiness, and repayment periods of 12 - 60 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: 6.99% - 19.97%
Repayment periods...

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