How to split expenses fairly with your partner – 3 methods

Moving in together means shared bills – and sooner or later, the question: what’s actually fair? There’s no single right answer, but there are three established methods. Here’s how they work, using the same example couple throughout: Alex earns 28 000 kr and Sam earns 35 000 kr a month after tax, and their shared expenses total 15 000 kr.

1. Equal split (50/50)

All shared expenses are split straight down the middle. Alex and Sam each pay 7 500 kr.

Works well if you earn about the same, or if you want to keep things as simple as possible. The downside: if one of you earns significantly less, the expenses hit that person’s wallet much harder – Alex is left with 20 500 kr while Sam has 27 500 kr.

2. By income (proportional)

Each of you pays a share that matches your own income. Alex accounts for 28 000 / 63 000 ≈ 44% (6 667 kr) and Sam for 56% (8 333 kr).

Works well if you earn different amounts but want the sacrifice to feel equally big. The shares recalculate automatically whenever either of you changes jobs or gets a raise.

3. Equal leftover

You pay different amounts so that you both have exactly the same amount left over after the shared expenses. Together, Alex and Sam have 63 000 − 15 000 = 48 000 kr left, meaning 24 000 kr each: Alex pays 4 000 kr and Sam pays 11 000 kr.

Works well if you see your finances as fully joint. This is the most equalizing method – and the one that most often needs a calculator.

How to choose

Talk through what “fair” means to you: the same amount, the same share, or the same margin? Try all three on your own numbers – in Inget tjafs you can switch methods with a click and see instantly who should transfer what to whom.