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Single and fabulous? It'll cost you. We know you can rock your bachelor(ette) lifestyle anywhere and on any income. But let's be real: Playing the field can be pricey. So we scanned the country for dating scenes that are as financially attractive as they are romantically promising.

After looking for metropolitan areas with high percentages of unmarried people, we focused on the financial factors of single living. We screened for cities where household incomes typically come in above the national median, increasing the likelihood that you and your date can actually afford to go out. We also factored in cost of living, as reported by the Council for Community and Economic Research, to ensure that paychecks are plump enough to cover expenses. Some pricier areas made the cut because their dating pools were deep enough or their incomes high enough to outweigh inflated living costs.

We also favored places with highly educated populations, because people with bachelor's degrees have a better chance of being gainfully employed. We eliminated metro areas with fewer than 125,000 people. Finally, we calculated a date-night tab: the average cost of a pizza, a bottle of wine and two movie tickets. Use it to budget for your next evening out.

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J Leon

Metro population: 19.0 million

Percentage of unmarried adults: 54.5% (U.S. average: 51.7%)

Cost of living: 129.6% above U.S. average

Median household income: $62,322 (U.S. median: $50,054)

Date-night tab: $46.71 for a pizza, bottle of wine and two movie tickets (U.S. average: $35.47)

What single person hasn't considered moving to New York? Its appeal to the unattached has been glorified worldwide in music, movies and television — and the high percentage of unmarried citizens backs up all the hype.

But before you go changing states of mind, note that the Big Apple's metro area, including northern New Jersey and Long Island, comes with the highest living costs in the country, more than double the U.S. average. It's true, too, that the median household income in NYC is far greater than the national level. But temper your expectations of single life in the big city and understand this: Carrie Bradshaw could not have afforded all those shoes.

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Metro population: 1.3 million

Percentage of unmarried adults: 54.7%

Cost of living: 0.6% above U.S. average

Median household income: $54,798

Date-night tab: $35.74

An eclectic mix of hip and historic, Richmond offers an excellent setting for any dating style. Foodies can enjoy more than 900 restaurants ready to serve whatever you're craving, be it Southern-fried comfort or the latest upscale trend. Outdoor enthusiasts can paddleboard, kayak or snorkel in the cleaned-up James River or hike, bike or run its wild banks, just minutes from downtown. And history buffs can re-live many of America's memories in this former capital of the Confederacy.

The numbers make Richmond even more attractive. Unemployment is low, with the second-best rate on this list at 6.0% (as of December 2012), compared with the U.S. unemployment rate from that month of 7.8%. And with a median income almost 10% higher than the national level and living costs on par with the rest of the country, you're likely to be able to afford a very active social life.

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Metro population: 367,063

Percentage of unmarried adults: 53.9%

Cost of living: 29.4% above U.S. average

Median household income: $73,890

Date-night tab: $37.50

If you buy into Trenton's poor rep, you'll miss out on some high pay. The area's median income ranks highest on this list and fifth-highest across the country — nearly 50% higher than the national median and more than enough to make up for the above-average living costs. The utilities and financial industries here offer the best opportunities, with local median annual salaries of $97,310 and $81,803, respectively. Some of the area's major employers include Hough Petroleum, loan-services provider Cenlar Capital, and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

The region's weekend attractions can prove rewarding, too. The Garden State's capital offers the New Jersey State Museum, the New Jersey World War II Memorial, the State Planetarium and Patriots Theater. In nearby Princeton, you'll find some great mom-and-pop shops and dining options. And, for bigger-city living, New York and Philly are just a quick train ride away.

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Aaron Brick

Metro population: 264,298

Percentage of unmarried adults: 54.6%

Cost of living: 68.3% above U.S. average

Median household income: $62,513

Date-night tab: $36.76

The second-smallest survivor on this list offers plenty of big draws, especially for active singles. Being beachside, you and your date are free to enjoy sailing, diving, paddling and fishing. And, of course, Santa Cruz is a noted hot spot for choice waves (just ask the Beach Boys). If you'd rather stay dry, you'll find ample opportunities for skateboarding, cycling, camping, hiking and rock climbing. Or "take it easy" on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California's oldest amusement park.

But the Monterey Coast metro area might be a little too leisurely. Though the unemployment rate is headed in the right direction, down from 12.4% in December 2011 to 11.0% as of December 2012, it still stands well above the December 2012 national rate of 7.8%. At least the local University of California campus adds some stability to the job market, employing one in four residents. And, with more than 17,000 graduate and undergrad students, UC Santa Cruz is also feeding the area's college-educated crowd, which already makes up 45.1% of the population, the second-highest share of bachelor's degrees on this list and far better than the 25.8% U.S. average.

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Metro population: 6.0 million

Percentage of unmarried adults: 55.1%

Cost of living: 22.8% above U.S. average

Median household income: $58,322

Date-night tab: $39.07

Look to the City of Brotherly Love for a more laid-back Northeast metropolis to suit your singles lifestyle. Famous for deliciously sloppy cheesesteaks and the no-collar underdog Rocky Balboa, the casual Philly vibe adds up to costs that are piddling compared with New York.

But don't confuse the city's relative affordability with downscale culture. From the Center City's world-renowned art museum (cue "Eye of the Tiger" now) to the Ivy League-infused crowd hanging around the University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia has plenty to offer singles with more-refined tastes. A population whose median income is well above that of the U.S. and boasts one-third who hold bachelor's degrees ain't so bad, either.

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David Ilif

Metro population: 12.9 million

Percentage of unmarried adults: 56.1%

Cost of living: 31.3% above U.S. average

Median household income: $56,653

Date-night tab: $38.06

The second-largest metro area in the country behind New York City (which ranks number 10 on this list) is bound to be home to a good number of singles. (Sorry, but that also decreases the chance that you'll run into resident Ryan Gosling.) In fact, Los Angeles offers the highest percentage of unmarried adults on our list. And not everyone in L.A. is in the movie biz, although they may aspire to be. Only 10.2% of the workforce is in entertainment; 20.3% is in education, health care and social services.

On the downside, La La Land is the tenth-priciest city in the country. The high expenses may be covered to some degree by the generous median incomes that come with this area. But we still don't recommend trying to keep up with the Kardashians.

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Metro population: 861,113

Percentage of unmarried adults: 55.6%

Cost of living: 31% above U.S. average

Median household income: $59,245

Date-night tab: $32.80

What do Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush and economist Paul Krugman have in common? They all started out single in New Haven. But Yale doesn't just churn out successful alums; it helps boost the local economy. The university and its hospital, along with AT&T, are the city's three largest employers.

New Haven's cost of living may be high, but the median income is also well above average. At the same time, the date-night tab ranks as the lowest on our list — so you can definitely afford to taste a real New Haven-style "apizza" (pronounced ah-BEETZ). Other area attractions you might consider sharing with a special friend: a free concert on the New Haven Green, strolling along the Long Island Sound or hitting the bar-and-restaurant scene on Crown Street.

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Andrew Horne

Metro population: 347,962

Percentage of unmarried adults: 55.3%

Cost of living: 3% above U.S. average

Median household income: $56,612

Date-night tab: $34.53

Ann Arbor wears the town and gown well. Although the University of Michigan does skew the population younger than the rest of the country — the median age is 32.9 years old, versus 37.3 for the U.S. — it also provides a big, stable employer and adds to the educated crowd. The local unemployment rate is just 5.1%, the lowest of all the cities on this best list (the national rate remains near 8%).

This midwestern city also dispels the notion that well-schooled dates can only be found on the coasts. A little more than half of the residents of Ann Arbor hold bachelor's degrees — the highest percentage of smarty pants on this list and nearly double the average U.S. share. All of that higher learning should make for stimulating dinner conversation.

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Metro population: 2.7 million

Percentage of unmarried adults: 55.4%

Cost of living: 18% above U.S. average

Median household income: $65,463

Date-night tab: $37.19

Baltimore would be a winning city even without its recent Super Bowl championship. Though the cost of living is above the national average, compared with neighboring D.C. (where living expenses are a whopping 50.9% above average), you'll find the harbor town to be a bargain. Plus, the median household income soars above the national level to the second-highest spot on this list.

And if the numbers weren't attractive enough, the waterfront could certainly help lure anyone — single or not. With the Inner Harbor's numerous bars and restaurants (definitely try the crab cakes), as well as the National Aquarium, Camden Yards and cruises on the bay, you'll always find something fun to do on your next date.

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Metro population: 194,566

Percentage of unmarried adults: 54.6%

Cost of living: 7.1% below U.S. average

Median household income: $57,799

Date-night tab: $34.15

Topping our rankings, Bloomington makes the classic personal finance chestnut of "spend less than you earn" easy to swallow. Single and married residents alike typically enjoy above-average incomes as well as below-average living costs. Singletons will especially appreciate not being overwhelmed by married couples everywhere they go.

The co-ed crowd affects the local dating pool, as you might expect, considering that the adjacent city of Normal is home to Illinois State University. The area's median age is 32.8 years old (the U.S. median is 37.3), and just 59.8% of the population is 25 and older, making it the youngest, as well as the smallest, place on this list. But proximity to a big school has its benefits. The university is the area's second-biggest employer (behind State Farm Insurance) and a reliable provider of interesting and affordable date-night spots, including a planetarium ($4 admission for adults). When you're in the mood to hit the big city, Chicago is just two hours away.

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