Is splitting 50/50 always fair?

Rarely. If one room is 200 sq ft with a private bath and the other is 100 sq ft with a shared bath, a 50/50 split effectively subsidizes the person with the better room.

How should we handle couples sharing a room?

Couples generally shouldn't pay double what a single person pays for the same space, but they should pay more than a single person because they use more common areas (kitchen/living room) and utilities. A common method is to split bedrooms by square footage and common areas by person.

What about utilities?

Utilities (internet, electricity, water) are usually best split evenly per person (1/n), regardless of room size, unless someone has specific high-usage equipment (like a crypto mining rig or server).

Rent Split Calculator | Fairly Divide Rent by Room Income | Finmato

The "Fairness" Factor in Co-Living

Money is the #1 cause of roommate conflicts. The conversation usually starts awkwardly: "Hey, since your room has the balcony, shouldn't you pay more?" Without a neutral system, feelings get hurt. Our Rent Split Calculator provides that objective third-party opinion, using logic and math to ensure everyone feels the rent distribution is equitable.

3 Ways to Split Rent

Different households prioritize different things. Here are the most common models:

Square Footage

Logic: You pay for space.
Calculate the $ per sq ft of the bedroom areas. Common areas are split evenly.

Income-Based

Logic: From each according to their ability.
If Roommate A earns $100k and Roommate B earns $50k, A pays 66% of the rent.

Feature Pricing

Logic: Perks cost money.
Assign dollar values to features: Private Bath (+$200), Parking Spot (+$150), No Window (-$100).

The "Bid" Method (Standard of Fairness)

If you can't agree on dollar values, use game theory. This is often called the "Knaster Inheritance Procedure" or simply "The Auction."

Start with the rooms priced equally.
Ask: "Who wants the Master Bedroom at this price?"
If multiple people want it, raise the price of that room (and lower the price of the others) by $50.
Repeat until only one person is willing to pay the price for the Master Bedroom.

This ensures market efficiency: the person who values the room the most gets it, and the others pay less rent as compensation.

Couples + Singles

A couple shares the Master. A single person takes the small room. The couple should pay more than 50% combined, but less than 66% (2/3rds).

Remote Workers

If one roommate works from home and occupies the living room 8 hours a day, should they pay more for "office use"? It's a valid discussion.

Vacation Rentals

Splitting an Airbnb for a bachelor party? The person sleeping on the sofa bed shouldn't pay the same as the person in the King suite.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should we split the security deposit?

Security deposits usually follow the rent split logic. If you pay 60% of the rent, you should put down 60% of the deposit, as you have the most "value" at stake in the property.

What about buying furniture?

Avoid "splitting" furniture costs if possible. It makes moving out messy ("Who keeps the couch?"). Ideally, one person buys the couch, another buys the TV. If you split, agree on a buyout price upfront.

Should the person with the car pay more?

Only if the apartment comes with a designated parking spot that has value. If street parking is free and difficult, a dedicated spot is a premium amenity worth $100-$300/mo depending on the city.

Social Contract

This calculator provides a mathematical suggestion. The most important factor in roommate harmony is communication and mutual agreement. Get it in writing!

Data Privacy

We do not store your rent data. This calculator runs entirely in your browser.

Rent Split Calculator

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