Your love language says a lot about how you give and receive affection. It also says a lot about how much your relationship is going to cost you. Because in 2026, when a decent dinner out costs $80 and gas is still making us cry, some love languages are way more budget-friendly than others.
Let’s rank the five love languages by expense—from “this is sustainable” to “I might need a second job to keep this person happy.”
#5: Words of Affirmation (Free tier)
Average monthly cost: $0
This is the financially superior love language. Compliments are free. “You look amazing” costs nothing. “I’m proud of you” doesn’t require a credit card. You can shower someone with words of affirmation from now until forever without spending a single dollar.
The only potential costs:
- Greeting cards if you’re old-school ($5-8 each, but optional)
- Maybe a nice journal to write love notes in ($15, one-time purchase)
The catch: You actually have to be emotionally available and verbally expressive, which some people find harder than just buying stuff. But financially? This is the dream.
Best for: Anyone who’s broke but has feelings. Writers. People who are good with words but bad with money.
#4: Physical Touch (Also basically free)
Average monthly cost: $0-30
Hugs, hand-holding, cuddling—all free. This love language thrives on physical proximity and affection that costs absolutely nothing.
Potential costs:
- Nice sheets for all that cuddling ($50-100, but that’s a one-time thing)
- Massage oil if you’re trying to be fancy ($10-20)
- Maybe a couples massage for special occasions ($200-400, but not required)
Physical touch is incredibly cost-effective. Your main investment is time and presence, which is exactly what your bank account needs.
The catch: Requires actual physical proximity. Long-distance relationships with this love language get expensive fast (flights, visits, etc.).
Best for: Homebodies. People who value presence over presents. Anyone trying to save money while staying emotionally connected.
#3: Acts of Service (Moderately expensive)
Average monthly cost: $50-200
This is where things get tricky. Acts of service can range from free (doing the dishes, cooking dinner) to expensive (hiring someone to do things for them, upgrading their life in practical ways).
Common costs:
- Cooking nice meals ($30-60/week in groceries if you’re doing it often)
- Gas money running errands for them ($20-40/month with 2026 gas prices)
- Hiring help for things they hate (cleaning service, lawn care, $100-300/month)
- Taking care of car maintenance, home repairs (varies wildly)
The DIY factor matters: If you’re actually doing the services yourself, this is relatively cheap—just your time and maybe some supplies. If your love language is “I’ll pay someone to do this for you,” it gets expensive fast.
Best for: Handy people. Good cooks. Anyone who’d rather spend time than money. Terrible for people who can’t do anything themselves and have to outsource everything.
#2: Quality Time (Surprisingly expensive in 2026)
Average monthly cost: $200-500
This should be cheap—it’s just time together, right? Wrong. In 2026, “quality time” somehow always involves spending money.
Reality of quality time costs:
- Date nights (dinner and activity): $80-150 each, twice a month = $160-300
- Weekend trips/adventures: $200-500 when you do them
- Entertainment (concerts, shows, experiences): $50-200 per event
- Gas for drives and day trips: $30-50/month
The problem: Modern quality time expectations have inflated alongside everything else. “Let’s just hang out” somehow turned into “Let’s get brunch ($45), then check out that new gallery ($20 parking), then grab drinks ($60).”
You can do quality time cheaply (hiking, cooking together, game nights at home), but it requires intention and both people being okay with low-cost activities. If your partner’s idea of quality time is “experiences” that cost money, your budget is in trouble.
Best for: People with solid incomes who genuinely enjoy spending. Terrible for people who are broke or trying to save aggressively.
#1: Receiving Gifts (The budget destroyer)
Average monthly cost: $300-800+
If your partner’s primary love language is receiving gifts, congratulations—you’re basically funding a shopping habit disguised as affection.
The financial reality:
- Expected gifts for every occasion (birthday, holidays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, random Tuesdays): $100-300 each
- “Just because” gifts to show you’re thinking of them: $30-80 multiple times per month
- The right gifts (not just any gifts): Requires thought, research, and money
The 2026 inflation factor hits hard here: That “small thoughtful gift” now costs $40 instead of $20. Flowers are $60-80 for a decent arrangement. Jewelry, tech, experiences, subscriptions—it all adds up to hundreds monthly.
The catch: You can’t just stop giving gifts without your partner feeling unloved. This love language has mandatory recurring costs.
Best for: People with significant disposable income. Sugar daddies/mamas. Trust fund kids. Terrible for literally everyone else trying to build wealth or save money.
The brutal truth
Your love language compatibility isn’t just emotional—it’s financial. Someone whose love language is words of affirmation dating someone whose love language is receiving gifts? One person is happy and spending nothing. The other person is spending hundreds monthly and wondering why their partner never reciprocates.
The money conversation matters: If you’re partnered with someone whose love language is expensive, you need to talk about sustainable ways to meet their needs without destroying your financial goals. Maybe gifts can be smaller, more thoughtful, less frequent. Maybe quality time can include more free activities.
The bottom line
Love languages ranked by expense:
- Words of Affirmation (Free)
- Physical Touch (Free)
- Acts of Service ($50-200/month)
- Quality Time ($200-500/month)
- Receiving Gifts ($300-800+/month)
You can’t help what your love language is, but you can absolutely have conversations about expressing love in ways that don’t require one person to go broke. Because the most expensive love language of all is financial resentment—and that one costs relationships.
