Rent Split Calculator
Split rent fairly — by income or equally.
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Splitting rent equally is simple but not always fair when housemates earn very different amounts. This calculator does both: an equal split, or a proportional split by income so each person pays the same share of what they earn.
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How to Split Rent Fairly — The Quick Answer
For an equal split, divide the rent by the number of people. For an income-based split, each person pays the rent times their share of the combined income — so higher earners pay proportionally more.
Shortcut
equal: rent ÷ people by income: rent × (your income ÷ total income)
$2,000 rent, two housemates
| Person | Income | Equal | By income |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | $3,000 | $1,000 | $750 |
| B | $5,000 | $1,000 | $1,250 |
| Total | $8,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
Both methods are valid — equal splitting is simplest, while income-based splitting keeps rent at the same percentage of each person's pay. Agree the method with your housemates up front to avoid friction.
How It Works
The Method
Two ways to divide the rent
Formula
equal split: each pays rent ÷ number of people income split: each pays rent × (their income ÷ total income)
Variables
Equal split
The simplest method: everyone pays the same. Fair when housemates earn similar amounts or have equal-sized rooms.
Income-based split
Each person pays in proportion to what they earn, so rent stays the same percentage of everyone's income. Someone earning twice as much pays twice as much — often felt as fairer when incomes differ a lot.
Note: You can combine ideas in practice — for example, split by income but adjust for room size or whether a room has an en-suite. This tool covers the two most common bases; apply any extra adjustments manually.
Last updated: October 6, 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you split rent by income?
Add up everyone's incomes, then each person pays the rent multiplied by their share of that total. For $2,000 rent with incomes of $3,000 and $5,000 (total $8,000): the first pays 2,000 × 3,000/8,000 = $750, the second pays $1,250. Both pay 25% of their income.
Is it fairer to split rent equally or by income?
It depends on your household. Equal splitting is simplest and works when incomes are similar. Income-based splitting keeps rent at the same proportion of each person's pay, which many people feel is fairer when earnings differ a lot. The best choice is whichever everyone agrees to in advance.
What about different room sizes?
A common approach is to weight by room size or quality as well as (or instead of) income — the person with the big en-suite pays more. This calculator handles equal and income-based splits; for room-weighting, you can enter each person's agreed 'share' in place of income to get a proportional result.
Do the shares always add up to the full rent?
Yes. Both methods divide exactly 100% of the rent among the housemates, so the individual amounts always sum back to the total you entered — there's never a shortfall or surplus.