Looking to have a romantic Valentine's Day this year? It could set you back a few hundred dollars.
From roses and jewelry to dinner and champagne, Valentine's Day can be a costly affair, according to Bankrate.com.
The company compared prices for a handful of Valentine staples to determine just how much the average American spends on Feb. 14.
The answer? $512.02.
"For most couples, the expectation is there regardless of what the economic situation is," Ron Hill, a professor at the Villanova University, said in a statement. "Love is one of the few things that we think has that infinite value."
Here's a break down of the average prices for a typical Valentine bundle, according to Bankrate.com:
- A dozen roses — $41.66
- A heart-shaped box of chocolates — $15.11
- Fine dining for two — $80.46
- A bottle of champagne — $51.54
- Diamond earrings — $323.26
This is the first year that Bankrate has run this index, as such there is no way to track how this year's expenses compare to previous years.