This city in Oregon ranks among the best in the US for Valentine’s Day: Study

Michaela Bourgeois
·2 min read

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – While not everyone can dole out cash Patrick Dempsey-style in “Can’t Buy Me Love,” a new study researched the most romantic yet affordable cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day across the United States — naming the Rose City among the best.

WalletHub compared 100 of the largest cities in the U.S. for their Best Places for Valentine’s Day in 2024 study — considering 25 factors from florists per capita, and forecasted precipitation to the cost of a three-course meal for two.

Overall, Portland ranked fourth on the list — scoring high marks for greeting card stores and gift shops per capita (ranking second) along with restaurants per capita, and chocolate shops per capita (ranking ninth in both categories.)

WalletHub also ranked Portland 11th for jewelry stores per capita, 12th for weather forecast for Valentine’s Day, and 33rd for average beverage price.

2 atmospheric rivers to impact Portland area around Valentine’s Day

According to the WalletHub, 46% of Americans say inflation is affecting their Valentine’s Day plans this year, with total Valentine’s Day spending projected to reach $25.8 billion in 2024.

“It’s common to spoil your partner on Valentine’s Day, but inflation can certainly put a damper on those plans. Fortunately, the best cities for Valentine’s Day offer a wide variety of affordable date activities, food options and places to buy gifts, so you can show that you care without breaking the bank. It’s never a good idea to go into debt just to enjoy a holiday or give a gift,” says WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe.

San Francisco was ranked the number one city for Valentine’s Day – scoring first for activities, fourth for budget rank, and seventh for gift accessibility. Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Las Vegas round out the top five rankings.

Cleveland, OH, Birmingham, AL, Newark NJ, Detroit MI, and Hialeah, FL ranked among the 96-100 best cities on the list.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.