Key Highlights:
- TikTok creator Tony (@bulgogibrazy) shared a detailed breakdown of his multi-stop New York City first date, which quickly climbed to hundreds of dollars.
- The expenses included multiple rounds of drinks across different venues, shared appetizers, and ride-hailing fares, repeated across multiple dates per week.
- Social media users largely pushed back against the financial complaints, urging the creator to pick budget-friendly outings or pause dating until he is financially secure.
The financial reality of modern romance has sparked widespread debate online after New York City content creator Tony, known on TikTok as @bulgogibrazy, posted an itemized breakdown of what he spent during a recent first date. Highlighting the steep price tag of navigating the city’s nightlife while single, the video quickly gathered significant attention across the platform, generating over 135,500 views and 344 comments.
Inside the Cost of a Multi-Stop Night in Manhattan
In his video, Tony walked viewers through how quickly costs accumulate during an evening out in New York City. The night began at an initial venue where an opening round of drinks cost approximately $40. When his companion confirmed she was hungry, an order of appetizers bumped up the check further. A second round of cocktails quickly followed, tacking on an additional $40 to the starting tab.
As the atmosphere at the first establishment began to wear off, Tony suggested switching venues. Opting against public transit because he felt it would be rude to take the subway, he paid for an Uber to transition to the next location. Despite acknowledging in the clip that he was uncertain if his date was genuinely interested in him, Tony continued covering the evening’s expenses, ordering another two rounds of drinks that added approximately $70 to the tab.
By the conclusion of the evening, Tony found himself out several hundred dollars without any guarantee of a second meeting. He emphasized to his audience that these single-night expenditures must be multiplied by three to reflect his active weekly dating schedule, noting that the cumulative financial burden of being single in the city becomes overwhelming rapidly.
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Social Media Reacts: Commenters Challenge High-Spending Habits
Rather than receiving universal sympathy for the high cost of urban dating, Tony encountered significant pushback from viewers who questioned his dating approach and financial decisions. Multiple commenters suggested that individuals who find routine dating expenses prohibitive should either scale back their social calendars or adopt more modest alternatives.
“Don’t start dating if you’re not financially ready. What do you expect if you’re in an actual relationship?” one commenter asked.
Another user defended the traditional etiquette of paying while questioning why the expenses were framed as a grievance, writing, “Is that an issue? If I’m going out with a girl and I ask her to get drinks and go to multiple bars, I’m definitely paying…Call me old fashioned.”
Many responses focused on the strategic misstep of planning an elaborate, multi-venue first date with a virtual stranger. Users pointed out that introductory meetings are inherently unpredictable and are better suited for daytime or low-cost activities.
“Coffee first date. Then pay for dinner if the first date goes well. A lot of first dates go nowhere,” one user remarked.
“Just do things other than drinks?? My first date with my boyfriend was a country line dancing class that was free then went to do trivia after lol,” another shared.
Others in the comment section took an even firmer stance, suggesting Tony pause dating entirely to concentrate on personal development and financial management rather than funding recurring, high-cost outings.
Why This Matters
The conversation surrounding Tony’s clip underscores a growing tension between escalating urban cost-of-living pressures and traditional social expectations around dating. As dining, nightlife, and transportation prices rise in metropolitan hubs like New York City, singles are increasingly navigating the boundary between standard courtship etiquette and personal financial wellness. The online discourse reflects a broader shift among young daters toward “low-stakes” first meetings—such as coffee walks or free local activities—to prevent dating fatigue and financial burnout before establishing mutual compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the creator behind the viral New York City dating video?
The video was shared by Tony, a TikTok content creator who posts under the handle @bulgogibrazy, detailing his personal expenses while dating in New York City.
What specific expenses contributed to Tony’s date total?
The evening included an initial $40 round of drinks, appetizers, a second $40 drink round, an Uber ride to a second establishment, and another two rounds of drinks totaling $70, bringing the outing to a couple of hundred dollars.
What alternative first-date ideas did viewers recommend?
Commenters strongly recommended low-cost or daytime alternatives, including meeting for coffee, attending free events such as line dancing classes, or playing pub trivia, reserving expensive dinners and multi-bar tabs for subsequent dates once mutual interest is established.
