Guide
How to split rent fairly between roommates
Splitting rent right down the middle is easy — but it's only fair when every bedroom is equal, and they almost never are. Here are four methods for splitting rent fairly, from simplest to most precise.
1. Split rent equally
The simplest option: total rent ÷ number of roommates. It's fair when the bedrooms are genuinely comparable in size, light, and privacy. The moment one room is clearly nicer, equal starts to feel unfair — so only default to this when nobody's getting a noticeably better deal.
2. Split by room size or square footage
Measure each private bedroom and divide rent in proportion to the space each person gets. Shared areas (kitchen, living room) are counted equally. This is the most defensible method when rooms differ: a roommate with the 200 sq ft master pays more than one in the 120 sq ft box room, in exact proportion.
3. Weight for amenities
Adjust for the things square footage misses: an en-suite bathroom, a private balcony, a walk-in closet, or the only room with AC. Agree on a small premium (say 5–15%) for the perk, then split the remainder by size. Write the premium down so it doesn't get re-litigated every month.
4. Split by income (the equity approach)
Some households split rent in proportion to take-home pay so the burden feels even relative to means. It's less common and more personal, but for couples or close friends with very different incomes it can be the fairest of all. Only works if everyone's comfortable sharing rough numbers.
Once you've agreed, track it automatically
However you divide it, rent is a recurring bill — so set it once and stop re-entering it. BILL SPILT logs rent automatically every month with each person's exact share (equal, exact dollars, or percentage), rolls it into the same who-owes-what balance as everything else, and is free forever — no paywall, no credit card.
Set up your household — free