Austin may not be the most romantic city in the country — but for the second year in a row, it’s officially the best place in Texas to celebrate Valentine’s Day, according to a new study.

The city ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 12 nationwide in a new WalletHub study comparing the best U.S. cities for Valentine’s Day, factoring in affordability, date-night activities, gift options and weather. 

The analysis comes as Americans are expected to spend a record $29.1 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation, with the average person dropping about $200 on gifts, dinners and dates — a number that has climbed even as inflation continues to squeeze household budgets.

WalletHub evaluated cities across four main categories: budget, activities, gift accessibility and weather, using 25 separate metrics, including things like the cost of a three-course dinner for two and the number of florists, chocolatiers and spas per capita.

Austin performed especially well as a middle-ground city, ranking:

• 17th for affordability, factoring in dining, drinks and transportation
• 17th for activities, including restaurants, nightlife and walkability
• 16th for gift accessibility, such as jewelry stores and florists
• 81st for weather, a weaker spot driven by forecast volatility rather than average temperatures

That blend was enough to put Austin ahead of cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, and just behind Orlando and Washington, D.C.

While Austin placed highest overall among Texas cities, other parts of the state stood out for sheer affordability.

Garland and Plano both ranked in the top five nationally for having some of the cheapest three-course meals for two — a metric that carried extra weight in the study. Houston placed 23rd overall, while Dallas and Fort Worth landed in the middle of the pack.

Several Texas cities, however, fell toward the bottom of the rankings due to fewer florists, chocolate shops and gift retailers per capita, which are categories that dragged down places like El Paso, Corpus Christi and Lubbock.

WalletHub analysts said the rankings are meant to push back against the idea that Valentine’s Day has to be extravagant.

“It’s common to spoil your partner on Valentine’s Day, but inflation can certainly put a damper on those plans,” analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement. “The best cities 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.”

Among the study’s suggestions for keeping costs down:

• Cooking a meal together instead of dining out
• Opting for personalized or DIY gifts
• Taking advantage of free or low-cost outdoor activities
• Setting a firm budget and sticking to it

San Francisco topped the list overall, followed by San Diego and Las Vegas, buoyed by dense restaurant scenes, walkability and access to romantic experiences. Detroit, Toledo and Hialeah finished at the bottom.

Austin’s showing reflects what locals already know: the city may not be the cheapest place to fall in love, but between food trucks, live music, sunset walks and a deep bench of date spots, it remains one of the easier places to make Valentine’s Day feel special without going overboard.