How to split rent fairly with roommates
Guide · Updated 23 October 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: if the rooms are similar, split the rent equally. If they aren’t, split half of it equally (everyone uses the kitchen, the living room and the bathroom) and the other half by room size. Agree on the method before you move in, and write it down.
Rent is the biggest shared cost in a flatshare, and the one most likely to feel unfair. There is no single right answer, but there are four common methods. Here is how each works, when it fits, and a worked example.
1. Split it equally
Everyone pays the same: rent divided by the number of people. It’s the simplest method and it works well when the rooms are roughly the same size and nobody has a private bathroom or balcony.
Good for: similar rooms, short stays, friends who prefer simple over exact.
2. Split by room size
Each person pays in proportion to the size of their room: your room’s area divided by the total area of all bedrooms, times the rent. Measure the rooms, or use the floor plan.
The weakness: it ignores the shared spaces that everyone uses equally, so the person in the smallest room may end up paying very little for the same kitchen and living room.
3. Half equal, half by size
Most flatshares end up here. Split part of the rent equally for the shared spaces and the rest by bedroom size. Half and half is a good default; if the shared spaces are large, make the equal part bigger.
Worked example
Three roommates, rent of 6,000 MAD a month, bedrooms of 16, 12 and 10 m² (38 m² in total). Half the rent, 3,000 MAD, is split equally: 1,000 each. The other 3,000 MAD is split by size: 16/38, 12/38 and 10/38 of it.
| Room | Size | Equal half | By size | Monthly rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room A | 16 m² | 1,000.00 | 1,263.16 | 2,263.16 |
| Room B | 12 m² | 1,000.00 | 947.37 | 1,947.37 |
| Room C | 10 m² | 1,000.00 | 789.47 | 1,789.47 |
| Total | 38 m² | 3,000.00 | 3,000.00 | 6,000.00 |
Round to the centime and check the shares add up to the rent exactly. A private bathroom, a balcony or a lot more storage can justify a small extra on top, as long as everyone agrees on it up front.
4. Split by income
Each person pays in proportion to what they earn: someone earning 60% of the household’s income pays 60% of the rent. It’s common for couples, and sometimes for friends with very different incomes. It only works when everyone is comfortable sharing what they earn.
Bills and utilities
Internet, electricity, water and gas are usually split equally, because everyone uses them. Agree on exceptions up front: someone who works from home all day, or a heater that runs in one room only.
Groceries and shared supplies
Split shared staples (oil, bread, cleaning products, toilet paper) equally, and let each person pay for what only they eat or use. On a mixed receipt, mark which lines are shared and which are personal; tax and discounts are then spread in proportion.
Deposit and moving out
Write down who paid what towards the deposit. When someone moves out, settle all shared costs first, and agree how much notice they give so the others aren’t left paying a bigger share.
Doing this in Koti
- Add the rent each month with a Custom split and type each person’s share from your table. Koti won’t save it unless the shares add up.
- Add bills with an Equal split as they come in.
- Scan grocery receipts and split them By item.
- Koti keeps one balance per person. Pay back the usual way, record it, and the other person confirms.
More on how Koti works for a flatshare: Koti for roommates.