Dating Diaries: Dating Dealbreakers
In today’s fast-paced and uncertain world, love faces new challenges. eharmony’s latest Dating Diaries reveal how singles across generations are navigating romance amid their finances, long distances and more. Discover what truly drives modern dating choices—and how real connection still wins hearts across any divide. eharmony and our relationship experts are here to uncover all the dating and relationship trends Australian singles are experiencing in 2025.
Table of Contents
Relocating for Love
Ever heard of the saying ‘distance makes the heart grow fonder’? Aussie daters are wondering– why they would live apart when they could be together?
New eharmony Dating Diaries data reveals that finding love is a top priority for Aussie singles, with 64% saying it’s either the most important or very important. So much so, they’re ready to pack their bags, hit the road and relocate to be with their special someone.
Nearly half (46%) would move to another city or area within the same time zone. And 18% would go as far as moving to an entirely new country to find love.
Hiberdating: Aussies Staying Local when Dating
According to fresh insights from eharmony’s Dating Diaries, more than half of Gen Z singles (52%) aged 18–24 are on the hunt for a long-term relationship this winter, making them the most love-minded generation.
But there’s a twist. While the desire for meaningful connection is high, 35% of single Gen Zs say they wouldn’t travel more than an hour for a first date. This cosy approach to romance has sparked a new dating trend: hiberdating – keeping love local and low-effort during the cooler months.
Defining Success: Future Potential vs. Present Payoff
We all know lasting love takes effort and that starts from the very first date. According to new data from eharmony, Aussie singles are being thoughtful from the get-go, weighing up whether a first meet-up is truly worth their time and money. For 45% of daters, spotting signs of long-term compatibility is the key motivator in saying yes to that first date.
But are men and women investing equally when it comes to modern romance?
Not quite. While men and women agree that travel distance should be split evenly, it’s men who are more likely to splash the cash. In fact, 11% of Aussie men say they’re willing to spend over $300 a month on travel for dating – compared to just 1% of women. With the average active dater going on 61 dates a year*, that could mean spending up to $18,300 annually just on dating.
Clearly, men and women have different priorities when it comes to dating at the heart of it all is communication.
Methodology
Dating Diaries: Dating Dealbreakers report was commissioned by eharmony and conducted by 3Gem. It was fielded online between March 20th and March 27th, 2025, and surveyed 750 participants. Participants qualified if they were aged 18-64 and were open to dating. Results were weighted to be nationally representative.
