Report: Cost-of-living pressures strain Canadians’ romantic relationships
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابA new national benchmark survey suggests cost-of-living pressures are increasingly spilling into Canadians’ romantic lives, driving more couples to reconsider their relationships and reporting growing emotional fallout after money-related disputes. The findings come from Money Mentors’ 2026 Love and Money Benchmark Survey, which compares results from 2025 and 2026.
According to the survey, 17% of respondents said their financial situation has led them at some point to consider breaking up, separating, or divorcing—up from 11% last year. Over the past year, 25% reported that financial factors negatively affected their relationships or dating lives.
The report also links money arguments to personal well-being: 52% of Canadians in relationships said they experienced personal impacts after arguing about money, including increased anxiety or depression (34%) and poor sleep (25%).
Financial strain may also be affecting honesty between partners. Among those in relationships, 11% admitted they have lied about their financial situation to avoid conflict, while 13% said they have considered doing so.
Day-to-day spending (28%) and lack of savings (24%) were cited as the most common sources of financial disagreements, underscoring how routine expenses can become a recurring flashpoint amid broader affordability pressures.
