How to split expenses with roommates
Agree on the rule first, log every shared payment, and settle once a month.
Pick a rule
- Equal shares: simplest for rent and utilities when rooms are similar.
- By room size or income: fairer when they differ a lot. Agree on the percentages in writing.
- By usage: for groceries or items only some people use.
Log every shared payment
Date, what, amount, who paid and who shares it. Each person's balance is what they paid - their share.
Settle up with fewer transfers
Instead of everyone paying everyone, the people with negative balances pay the ones with positive balances. With four people that is usually three transfers or fewer.
Avoid friction
- Settle on the same day every month.
- Keep receipts in one shared folder.
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Examples use made-up numbers.
Excel and Google Sheets template
Group Expense Splitter
Log shared expenses and get one table showing who pays whom to settle up. For roommates, trips and couples.
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