It may be because I've (mostly) stayed away from dating apps and relied on actually meeting women, but a large number of the women I've dated have insisted in 'going dutch' / splitting the bill, even on first dates. That shouldn't be surprising given that most of the women I've been on dates with were roughly my peers. We were starving students when I was a starving student, an entry level worker when I was entry level, or well established when I was well established. A good percentage of them made / had as much, or more, income / money than me.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to be a gentleman and offer to pay, or to spring for some "treats", or buy those drinks or that bottle of wine, or to generally plan (and pay for) an interesting time. But if you meet a peer in person they often won't expect you to pay, and some may be offended if you insist.
Dating app culture is toxic. It's where men go to have a job interview, and then try to trade food for sex. It's also where a certain class of woman will treat a certain class of man as a meal plan. At that point it's better cut the bullshit dance and just hire a (reputable) escort. Or to meet women who are your actual peers in the wild.
(I avoid sugar babies for similar reasons. That just sounds like it has a huge potential to be messy, and involves people who are largely kidding themselves about being and seeing sex workers.)
TL;DR: Either try to meet peers in the wild, or see escorts. Everything else is bullshit.
