SplitSimpleCouples expense sharing: split costs with your partner
Couples can split shared costs equally or in proportion to income. Either works if you agree on it, log shared expenses in one place, and settle the difference once a month.
Updated November 2026
Couples split money in lots of ways. Some go fully joint. Some keep everything separate. Many sit in between: shared costs go in one pot, and the rest stays personal. If you are in the middle group, an expense sharing app saves you from keeping score in your head.
Equal split or split by income?
An equal split is simple. It also feels unfair when one partner earns much more than the other, because the same rent takes a much bigger bite out of the smaller income. A common alternative is to split shared costs in proportion to income. If one person earns 60% of your combined income, they cover 60% of shared costs.
Neither is right for everyone. The point is to pick one together, on purpose, rather than drift into it.
Worked example: a 60/40 split by income
Jordan earns $90,000 a year and Alex earns $60,000. Together that is $150,000, so Jordan's share is 60% and Alex's is 40%. They use that split for shared costs in October:
| Expense | Paid by | Amount | Split between |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Jordan | $2,200 | 60% / 40% |
| Groceries | Alex | $600 | 60% / 40% |
| Electricity and internet | Alex | $180 | 60% / 40% |
| Dinner out | Jordan | $120 | 60% / 40% |
| Total | $3,100 |
Shared costs total $3,100. Jordan's 60% is $1,860 and Alex's 40% is $1,240.
| Person | Paid | Fair share | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan | $2,320 | $1,860 | +$460 |
| Alex | $780 | $1,240 | −$460 |
A plus balance means the group owes you. A minus balance means you owe the group.
So the month settles with one transfer:
- Alex pays Jordan $460
For comparison, an equal split would put each person at $1,550, and Alex would owe Jordan $770. The income-based split moves $310 of the month's costs from Alex to Jordan.
Things that are not shared
Not everything has to go through the shared split. Gifts for each other, personal subscriptions, and your own hobbies usually stay personal. Some couples add a "yours, mine, ours" rule: anything over a set amount gets discussed first. The app only needs the "ours" part.
How to set it up in SplitSimple
- Create a group for the two of you. Call it "Home" or "Us" and set your currency.
- Invite your partner by link. They join from the browser or the Android app.
- Pick the split for each expense. Choose percentage and enter 60 and 40, or whatever you agreed. Use equal or exact when a cost does not follow the usual rule.
- Add expenses as you pay them. Whoever pays logs it. You both see the running balance.
- Settle up monthly. One payment usually clears it. Mark it as settled and start the next month at zero.
Tips for couples
- Revisit the split when incomes change. A new job or a career break is a good moment to re-agree it.
- Keep the conversation about fairness, not cents. The tracker handles the cents.
- Use comments for one-offs. "Your mum's birthday flowers, split 50/50 this time" keeps the reasoning attached to the expense.
- Check Insights now and then. Seeing where shared money goes each month is a calmer starting point for budget talks than a surprise bank statement.
FAQ
How do couples split expenses fairly?
Agree on a rule for shared costs, either equal or in proportion to income, and track every shared expense against it. Settle the difference monthly. Keep personal spending out of the shared pot.
How do I calculate a split by income?
Divide each partner’s income by your combined income. Earning $90,000 out of a combined $150,000 means a 60% share. Use those percentages for each shared expense.
Can we use different splits for different expenses?
Yes. Each expense can be split equally, by percentage, by exact amounts, or by item, so rent can be 60/40 while a holiday is 50/50.
Does the app link to our bank accounts?
No. SplitSimple does not connect to bank accounts or move money. It tracks shared costs and tells you who owes whom.
Track it with your group
SplitSimple is free: add expenses, see who owes whom, and settle up with the fewest payments.
Start a group, free