Free tools · Couples & households
Split bills by income
Enter each person's income and your shared monthly bills. See proportional fair shares — and exactly how they compare to a 50/50 split.
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Fair shares of $2,600.00
- Partner A (60% of income)$1,560.00
$260.00 more than an even split ($1,300.00)
- Partner B (40% of income)$1,040.00
$260.00 less than an even split ($1,300.00)
The case for (and against) proportional splitting
When two people share a home on very different incomes, a 50/50 split can quietly strain the lower earner: the same $1,300 rent share might be 20% of one paycheck and 40% of the other. Splitting in proportion to income equalizes the burden instead of the dollar amount — both people give up the same slice of what they earn.
The counterargument: proportional splitting ties money to income in a way some couples find uncomfortable, and it needs renegotiating when incomes change. There's no universally right answer — which is why this calculator shows each person's proportional share and the difference versus an even split, so the conversation starts from numbers instead of feelings.
Whatever you choose, the split is the easy part — the hard part is applying it to every grocery run and utility bill for months. That's the part worth automating.
Frequently asked questions
How do you split bills based on income?+
Each person pays the same percentage of the shared bills as their percentage of the combined income. If you earn $72,000 and your partner earns $48,000, you earn 60% of the total, so you pay 60% of the bills. On $2,600 of shared bills that's $1,560 versus $1,040.
Is a proportional split fairer than 50/50?+
It depends what you're optimizing for. 50/50 treats the expense as equal consumption; proportional treats it as equal burden — each person gives up the same fraction of their income. Many couples with different incomes prefer proportional because it leaves both people with proportionally similar disposable income. Neither is objectively right; the calculator shows both so you can compare.
Should we use gross or net income?+
Net (take-home) income is usually the better measure of what each person can actually contribute, especially when tax situations differ. Just be consistent — everyone uses the same definition. The math works the same either way.
Which bills should be split proportionally?+
Most couples apply proportional splitting to fixed shared costs — rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, streaming, insurance. Personal spending (hobbies, individual subscriptions, gifts) usually stays personal. Some keep proportional splitting for the big items and go 50/50 on small stuff to keep mental overhead low.
Does this work for more than two people?+
Yes — add up to six people. Each pays their income's share of the total. Some multi-roommate households use it for rent when incomes vary a lot, though most roommates stick to room-based splitting — see our rent split calculator for that approach.
More free splitting calculators
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🏠 Rent Split Calculator
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