New York Helicopter

I keep hearing headlines today of how many tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars it cost the “taxpayers” for Obama’s date night out in NYC recently - I guess I am thick headed, but what is it that was being questioned? I mean, if a normal couple goes out to dinner & show in NYC, they pay for the dinner, show tickets, parking and transport out of pocket. The president atleast paid for the show tickets and dinner. How can the transportation costs be reduced, changed or avoided since he is the president? I believe they said it cost $80,000 for the plane, helicopter and limosine, all of which naturally have secret service security attached. But what did he do wrong? He can’t travel any other way as president right?