Rent Split Calculator
Free tool for Indian flatmates. Split rent equally or proportionally by room size, add utilities and maintenance, and see exactly what each person owes. No sign-up.
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How rent splitting works in India
In an Indian flatshare, the way you split rent is the single biggest source of awkward conversations. There are two fair methods, and picking the right one depends on the setup of your flat.
Equal split — when all rooms are similar
This is the default for most 2BHK and 3BHK shared flats where every flatmate gets a private bedroom of roughly the same size. Total rent is divided by the number of flatmates, and everyone pays the same. Utilities (electricity, internet, gas) and maintenance are also split equally, even though usage varies — tracking individual usage is impractical and creates more friction than it's worth.
Proportional split — when rooms are unequal
If one bedroom is larger, has a balcony, attached bathroom, or its own AC, equal split feels unfair. Proportional split divides rent based on each room's share of the total liveable area. For example, in a 200 sqft + 120 sqft setup, the larger room pays 62.5% of rent (200/320) and the smaller pays 37.5%. Utilities can still be split equally — they don't scale with room size.
Income-weighted split — less common but valid
Some flatmates with very different income levels (e.g. a fresh grad sharing with a senior engineer) prefer to split rent in proportion to income rather than room size. This is rare in India but is legitimate if everyone agrees in advance. The calculator above doesn't directly support this, but you can simulate it by entering income figures as the "room size" field.
What to do about utilities
Three approaches, in increasing order of fairness:
- Equal split (most common): Add up the month's electricity, internet, gas, water bills. Divide by N. Done. This is what 90% of Indian flatshares do.
- Equal split + AC adjustment: If one flatmate's room has an AC that runs daily, ask them to pay an extra ₹500-1500/month flat. Simpler than installing a sub-meter.
- Sub-meter every room: Install individual electricity meters per room. Highest accuracy, highest setup cost, requires landlord approval. Mostly seen in PG accommodations, rare in private rentals.
The security deposit conversation
Each flatmate should pay their proportional share of the security deposit (matching their rent share). When someone moves out, they should get back their share — assuming no damage to their room or shared spaces. Write this agreement down before anyone hands over money. Verbal deposit agreements are the #1 source of post-move-out disputes in Indian flatshares.
Common rent split disputes (and how to avoid them)
"My room is smaller but I'm paying the same as you"
Use proportional split from day one. Don't agree to equal split if the rooms are noticeably different sizes — you'll resent it within two months.
"I'm out of town for 2 weeks but you still want me to pay full rent?"
Rent doesn't reduce for short absences. Utilities can — agree in advance that anyone away for >7 consecutive days gets a 50% utility credit for that period. Anything longer, treat it like a sub-let conversation.
"You bought toilet paper and milk — do we split that?"
Either keep a shared kitty (each flatmate puts in ₹2000/month, all shared groceries come from there) or use Splitwise. Don't try to remember who bought what.
"My friend stayed over for a week — do I owe extra?"
Short stays (under 5 nights) — no extra. Anything longer should trigger a small utility contribution (₹100-200/night). Agree on this in your house rules upfront.
"I want to move out early — what about the deposit?"
The leaving flatmate is responsible for finding a replacement that the landlord and remaining flatmates approve of. If they can't, they forfeit their deposit share. This needs to be in writing.
Why we built this calculator
Bunkd is a swipe-based flatmate finder for India — we built this calculator because almost every match conversation eventually gets to "okay, so how are we splitting things?" We wanted that conversation to start with a number, not a math fight.
If you don't have a flatmate yet, try Bunkd — phone-verified profiles, lifestyle matching (sleep schedule, cleanliness, dietary preference), no broker fees. Built for Indian students and young professionals.