The typical cost of seeing a provider has jumped by about $200  or so; an increase of more than 60%. I wonder if it’s going to come back down to pre-pandemic levels and how long that will take? Or is this just the new normal?

that the typical cost of seeing a provider has jumped by about $200 or so.  How did you determine that?  It’s not true for me and probably not for many others. If it’s based only on what you’re paying, you should have said that.

In California, the majority of providers who were charging $250/hr to $300/hr are now charging $400 - $500. The only ones who have not are the Asian agencies, and I’m thankful for that.  

I live in Texas and like you, I haven't been seeing rate increases anywhere near approaching $200 hr on average.

I've seen the price increases in Vegas and LA (although I have friends who love grandpa so not so much) But I've learned to adapt and adjust. In a way, it makes the chase kinda fun, putting in the research and just getting the vibe on the person you'd like to meet. But yeah, there's some new ladies whom I wanted to meet where now I don't fit in their price range but that's ok, no worries as there's more fish in the sea.What's that line we've heard over and over again...."it's supply and demand"..blah, blah, blah...so I get it
But one thing about me,.... I can still spot that diamond in the rough

Also in CA, average for unleaded self-serve (in LA) is close to $4.40 and people buy burnt-out homes for close to $1 million.

And, as already has been said, I haven’t seen a ton of price increases in the DMV talent pool I look through which includes non-kgirls. True, kgirl fees have gone up with my go-to agency, but only $20.  What I am noticing in reviews are increases in shorter stays such as 30-min for $300 but $350 for the entire hour or sketchy providers doing 15-min for $120-150. I don’t particularly care though since girls who offer QVs like that are a huge nope for me anyway.

I use to have a limit on what I would pay,which was 400.00,because I couldn’t see paying more for a hour then I make in a day(around 500.00) but some of my regulars, I like to see went from 400.00 to 500.00 to 600.00, it’s crazy, I try to look on the positive side of it all, the more a provider charge, she not likely to see as many guys, so she has more energy and preform better… hopefully the prices don’t keep going up, if they do ,then I will have to give up the hobby!! I always think about all the money I spent on the hobby, it’s could be going into my retirement account…Lol

$500 and up is just a difficult thing to accept.  When you think (at least I do) what you could buy for that $ after your session is over makes me pause.  
I collect some sports memorabilia on the side and if you gave me $500 to go to a store and buy whatever I could with that money I'd be excited and come away with a few cards and autographed football or baseball.  Or do U spend $500 and then 1 hour later you out the door and maybe that session wasn't all that special.  
I understand some high profile adult stars charging $1000 and up.  But when you see just your local lady charging $500 for just 1 hour it has to give you pause.  I wanted to see Danica Lane who is a travelling escort but she is up to $700 for 1 hour!   Hard to justify that.  

Comparing my two ATFs
1. 2009 / $300
2. 2020 / $300
# 2 has a rating of 8.5 and about 100 reviews. Total GFE and begs for MSOG. Down to Earth sweetheart.
Go see her.
BTW $300 in 2009 adjusted for inflation is $375+

Upper mid west and Chicago in particular most ladies have tacked on an extra $100 or so.

$300 in 2009 = $372 today
$300 in 2000 = $464 today
$400 in 2009 = $496 today
$400 in 2000 = $619 today

I hear you on Danica Lane, I just pulled up her profile, she reminds me of some one I would see in the grocery store,and I will go back down that same aisle and pretend like I’m looking for something just to get a second look!

Cash only transactions for me. If I can't do it within the daily ATM limit, I'm out! Lol

well everyone is taking a hit (No matter who you are). The restaurants, Sex Industry Workers and etc. are taking a hit (but it's safety reasons).

...in the absence of value....

I reached out to a massage provider who I'd remembered was around $500, maybe $450, for NURU style massage.  When she replied the rate was much higher.  I asked why and she said the hotels, gas, food, etc are all way up in price and had to adjust the rates.  I mentioned I had access to $500 cash.  We had a respectful email exchange and in the end we were unable to meet.  Not sure if anyone filled the spot but it was refreshing to be able to talk open and honest about rates.  I explained I too had close to a 3 hour round trip and that would cost me over $50 in gas and dinner to get there.  Both sides have expenses in this transaction.  
Another time a Dominatrix I wanted to see was touring kinda last minute.  It was the night before Thanksgiving and she put an ad on Eros for the weekend she was touring near me.  I emailed her for rate and she said it was $250 for the 1 hour session.  I replied asking if I could use a CC or send amazon GC.  She emailed back asking how much cash I had.  I said $200 and she said fine, I'll do it for $200.  She mentioned better to make $200 while on tour than sitting around not making any $ that night.  Ever since I've done the $250 and often bought her stockings from her amazon wish list anytime she is in town.  The $50 she could have not seen me for turned into a great relationship of sessions and other gifts.  

But that’s I.  

We all have are budget.  Hate when providers think budget = Cheap.
Anything over $500 for me is no go unless you are talking about meeting some elite adult stars like Nikki Benz or Kendra Lust.  Over $600 for a massage is pricing out a lot of folks IMO.

Danica checks all the boxes.   Mature woman who looks sexy and knows how to dress.  Stockings and lingerie are a must for me.  Anything else looks lazy and last minute (Karen Fisher did this to me).  However asking $700 for 1 hour to meet is not practical and to those who can afford it I am jealous.  I just keep looking for someone in a $400 to $500 range that is close to her looks and style.

I was paying 40 to 80 now $100 to $200 for the end see.  Most I ever paid in my life was $120. Unless you count time my bike was stolen, or I got mud at truck stop, or rob on Michigan avenue in Detroit but that was around 100 loss.  
Lost provider I gave her a trip and $49 for a quickly.  Dollar tree has windshield Washer solvent for one dollar Walmart and auto parts stores $2.99 the gastation it $4.99.  I try to buy 5 case on sale at home Depot in April when go sale spring stock up at .79 a bottle.      LEARN TO SHOP.

Prices of EVERYTHING were being driven by real-estate bubbles/crunches .. pre-COVID, there was a combination sharp price increases in even fleabag hotels and dumpy apartment buildings used as work cribs by independents.  I would see ladies my age, for better chemistry, and pay about $$ - $$$.   These same ladies are now returning to the market, and asking for $$$$.   Nope.  

Consumer Price index versus pussy price point .  

What's interesting that for the last two years, rent and real estate market have been down in bay area, and especially in SJ due to covid and tech outsourcing due to all tech companies allowing wfh,many times with relocation.

Pricing needs to follow some common sense.  Eventually you price yourself out of business or piss off enough regulars that you take yourself out of the game.  
I'd think some ladies would be trying to undercut the $500 and up crowd.  Get new clients and grow your brand.  

Let me put it this way, I deal in a business that operates on margins of about 60% before expenses , since Covid-19  pandemic our business has increased maybe 5 % and we have acquired another company and their client base . My employer is a multi-billion dollar company and operates in 28 states and has factories overseas .  

Complaining isn't going to do anything.  Either they are successful at their price point or they aren't.  That's the only motivation.
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I was just ready to book a high price twitter famous touring provider, $800 for 90 minutes.  That's generally out of my desired price range, but because she was famous ... but the very day I was going to commit, she bumped minimum up to two hours for $1000.  So I had to pass.  I don't need two hours and for $1000 I could see three locals for an hour each.
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You just gotta draw the line and stick to it.  If she can get that (no doubt) then that's what she can get.  Good for her.
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But I'll stick to my neighborhood as well.  

I have checked the first page of independent providers on P411 in Atlanta to arrive at an average price per hour. I didn't count providers from an agency and there were some providers who did not reveal costs. I checked on 3 random days, The daily average was 48 active providers.  The average price rounded off is $500 per hour in Atlanta. P411 is as good a source as any available. We know the providers are current and active. P411 is a good source for any other city for current information as well

A fact versus an opinion.  Nicely done.

You seen Kendra Lust? I seen her back in 2018 for 1800 only time I spent that much on a provider,but I figure you only live once and I have always wanted to see a pornstar, her husband is a very lucky man! She was great!

I agree, lester_ prairie , with not needing two hrs, i believe providers who only do 2 hrs minimum, are lazy and is trying to see as few guys as possible ,and make the same money, plus for the first hr plus they want to bullshit ,and do a lot of talking and maybe have a drink or two at the guy expense, I am not really into conversation when, I go see a provider, plus I don’t drink, so I’m like enough of the bullshit, we both know why I’m here, so let’s get down to business ,so I can get on with the rest of my day!

I'm sure the average by this measure is well over 500/hr for Boston.  There are girls visiting Boston publishing even higher [asking] prices...700+ is quite common on Twitter these days.

I don't know why the link did not post.  Here it is.

Idk what the reality is but from all the providers that were on my bucket list, once she raises her rates, she never lowers them. She keeps charging that or increases it again. In very rare circumstances do i see a rate lowered.

As things around us goes up  (Things such as cost of a roof over our heads & etc).  So does the cost of a provider (escort).

I posted the average price per hour of a 1 hour date 11 months ago. The average price per hour at that time was $500 per hour per independent provider in Atlanta. The information was gleaned from the first 50 listings on P411 . I just calculated again today using the same criteria. The cost per hour has risen to $583 since last September.

I am in NYC and the sweet spot for what the Indy's are asking is around $600 vs $500 a year or two ago. That said, I am paying $400 to two Indy locals I've build relationships with and the occasional agency at $450-500. Even the AMPs have gotten more expensive. Most are now asking low/mid $300s all-in vs mid/high $200s last year. When I see an Indy I like, I usually make an offer to see them at least every other week for a $100 discount. It's worked more often than not so far. To my surprise, I have also benefitted in paying for a one hour session but getting 2+ instead on most occasions. I guess loyalty reward programs work in the hobby too.