First off the DC has a very high standard of living the avg brother makes well over the national average in America. My son's friend works for the government and makes 55k/year with paid vacations and that is 'poor' over there. So he's seeing it from that lens. But even then women make very good money as well so, it's not as if they can't do for themselves. But really the goal of dates is to get to know the person, not stunt on how much you make. While I don't think a 1st date should be at McDonalds, it doesn't have to be The Cheesecake Factory or Ramsey NY either. If a women has her eyes on your wallet she is not for you period.
But yea the dating game is getting out of control when it comes to spending money. I met my wife over a dirty slice of pizza and a grape soda and we watched 5 dollar matinee at the movies, and she snuck in 2 40's. I did pay for the date, but it didn't cost me more than 15 bucks. But all in all in 2015, dinner and a movie shouldn't cost more than 100 for everything.