50/50
You each put in the same amount. Simple and easy to follow.
| Partner 1 | Partner 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Per month | — | — |
| Per paycheque | — | — |
| Spending money left / month | — | — |
Couple bill split calculator: 50/50 or based on income?
Enter your take-home pay and shared costs. See three fair ways to split them side by side, per month and per paycheque, plus what each of you has left.
Free. No account, no email. Takes a few minutes.
Made-up numbers, to see how it works.
Three ways to split it
Based on your take-home pay. None of them is “the right one”. The right one is the one that feels fair to both of you.
Your results will show up here
- Add Partner 1’s take-home pay to see the results.
- Add Partner 2’s take-home pay to see the results.
- Add your shared costs to see the split.
Note: Your shared costs are higher than both paycheques combined. Double-check the numbers, or try the full budget to see where to adjust.
Proportional to income
You each pay your share of what you earn together.
| Partner 1 | Partner 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Per month | — | — |
| Per paycheque | — | — |
| Spending money left / month | — | — |
Same spending money for each
The split is set so you each have exactly the same amount left once everything’s paid.
| Partner 1 | Partner 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Per month | — | — |
| Per paycheque | — | — |
| Spending money left / month | — | — |
Custom
Slide to set your own split and see what it means in dollars.
| Partner 1 | Partner 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Per month | — | — |
| Per paycheque | — | — |
| Spending money left / month | — | — |
We count 2 paycheques a month (4 if paid weekly), like a normal month. A few times a year an extra paycheque shows up. That’s bonus money.
Your numbers stay in your browser. This calculator doesn’t send or save anything.
Which one fits you? A few pointers
- Your incomes are close: 50/50 is usually the simplest, and the gap left over is small.
- Your incomes are different: many couples find a proportional split fairer. Several financial institutions mention it as an option in that case (National Bank).
- The gap is big, or one of you has heavy fixed costs (student loan, support payments…): “same spending money” gives you both the same freedom each month.
- Life is changing (a baby, parental leave, back to school, a new job): a good time to run the numbers again. Lots of couples switch methods over time.
These are pointers, not rules. The best method is the one you’ve talked through together and both feel is fair. This isn’t financial advice.
The split’s sorted. What about the rest?
Coussinet walks you through it one question at a time (about 15 minutes), works out your split with all your real numbers, then puts your budget on autopilot:
- the automatic transfers to set up, amount and date for every paycheque;
- one weekly number to keep an eye on for groceries, eating out and fun;
- a “This weekend” checklist to get it all set up.
No more logging every purchase.
The interview and preview are free. Unlock the full plan with a one-time payment. No subscription, no account, no email kept.
On your own? Coussinet has a solo version too.
Frequently asked questions
What does “proportional to income” mean?
Each of you pays shared costs according to your share of your combined income. Say Alex takes home $3,200 a month and Sam $2,200: Alex earns about 59% of your income. With $2,800 of shared costs, Alex puts in about $1,659 and Sam about $1,141. The calculator does this for you, per month and per paycheque.
Is a proportional split fairer than 50/50?
Often, when incomes differ, but not always. A Quebec study by INRS of 38 couples found that just over half split costs 50/50 or proportionally, often to keep each partner’s independence. But these methods sometimes made inequality worse: some women cut their own spending sharply to cover their share (INRS Partenariat Familles bulletin, in French). That’s why the calculator also shows each person’s leftover spending money, plus a third option: “same spending money for each.”
Should we use gross or take-home pay?
The calculator uses take-home pay, the money that actually reaches your account and pays the rent and groceries. Some couples prefer gross pay, or income after savings. There’s no wrong answer, as long as you both use the same base.
I’m paid every two weeks. How is my share per paycheque worked out?
We count 2 paycheques a month, so your monthly share is divided by two. That’s deliberately cautious: most months you get exactly two. About twice a year, a third paycheque lands in the same month. In the full budget, those extra paycheques are planned ahead as bonus money.
Do we need a joint account to split costs?
No. With a joint account, you each transfer your share every payday and shared bills come out of it. Without one, one of you pays certain bills and the other pays back the difference by automatic transfer. Both work. The full budget shows you how to set up your accounts based on what you already have.
Are my numbers saved?
No. The calculator runs in your browser, with no account and no email. If you move on to the full budget, your answers are encrypted on your device before they’re saved, and only you have the code to open them again.