Should couples moving in together split rent 50/50 or based on income?

Lemon_gecko · 2026-03-27T09:43:39+00:00

There is no should. But if you're going 50/50 then the person with lower income should tell what's in their budget.

Clueless_Forever · 2026-03-27T00:25:31+00:00

If you’re not married, and you’re living according to her finances (i.e. she can afford half the rent while also being able to pay for other necessities, some wants and is able to save some money each month etc.) it is reasonable to split 50/50. But if the higher earning partner expects a shared standard of living that matches THEIR wages (i.e. luxury housing, fancy food etc) then that partner should pay more.

jorts-enthusiast · 2026-03-27T00:30:03+00:00

IMO split based on income makes sense if there’s a large disparity and if one person wants to spend more than the other for whatever reason

Other than that, I think 50/50 is the way

TermAggravating8043 · 2026-03-27T09:45:24+00:00

This really depends on how you want this relationship to process or not. As a roommate, this works fine, it’s fair.

But if you want this relationship to progress you’ll need to adjust, get a joint bank account and both start putting in a portion of your incomes to ensure bills are paid.

This is not even touching the domestic side.

No-Hunt-6123 · 2026-03-27T05:58:52+00:00

It’s truly rough out there for some women 🤣

myboobiezarequitebig · 2026-03-27T00:16:32+00:00

Whatever works best for them.

My man and I pay based on income. I pay most because he’s in school but before he paid everything when I was in school. We scale with each year as he makes more money.

-Shes-A-Carnival · 2026-03-27T00:41:26+00:00

thats up to them

Apprehensive_Emu2457 · 2026-03-27T07:55:21+00:00

I'd say since you make more than her, you should contribute more to the rent. If you're both working the same amount of hours, but you're getting paid more, I think it'd be unfair to her for her to do 50/50.

Repogirl757 · 2026-03-27T11:09:31+00:00

You should be paying a higher portion because you make a lot more. Since you make 77 percent of the income you should be paying 77 percent of the rent and her the remaining 23 percent. Its the only fair way. 50/50 is fine if you make close enough amounts . This is not the case here though. 150k vs 500k? That’s a big difference. Going 50/50 there means you get to keep way more of your money than she does hers. That’s not fair. Going 50/50 when there’s a bigger income difference really isn’t fair to the lower earner

JumpyWerewolf9439 · 2026-03-27T04:52:40+00:00

you should be paying more than her. are you serious about here. it's a partnership.

Feisty-Saturn · 2026-03-27T13:26:06+00:00

Personally my man would cover much more of the mortgage, probably all if he made that much. As someone making 150k, I can tell you that half of the mortgage is around two weeks of her pay.

From what I understand many couples divide expenses based on the percentage they make to one another. The reality is, that women would never be able to afford 6000 mortgage on her own. Thats a decision they came to, based on the high income because there is an understanding that the higher income can cover that expense.

I would actually consider this at minimum an orange flag in the relationship because it seems that the man is willing to put a strain on the woman he’s with, out of principle. Happy partnerships cannot survive under ego. Someone who loves their significant other shouldn’t have an issue stepping up in certain areas where their partner falls short.

africagal1 · 2026-03-28T01:19:04+00:00

Honestly if a man made way more then me and wanted me to go 50/50 I would assume he didnt like me that much

2020gmtmoney · 2026-03-28T02:51:14+00:00

50/50

balhaegu · 2026-03-28T07:05:30+00:00

Either 50/50 or 100/0 and she does the chores.

70/30 or whatever is just stupid. How are you going to nitpitck over everything.

Either you have an equal relationship, or a provider relationship

ChadChasingBReturns · 2026-03-27T00:03:56+00:00

Couples should do what they agree to do and what works for them. There’s no other “should” involved.

Artistic_Bumblebee17 · 2026-03-27T00:09:10+00:00

You can do whatever you want. Whether she respects you after that- idk

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Pro-IDGAF · 2026-03-27T03:32:34+00:00

ya sure buddy.

love_in_october · 2026-03-27T07:03:55+00:00

Based on income. I'm the higher earner and we do this, 80% of each of our income goes into the joint account (although all of it is both our money really but it's easier to organise personal spending that way). I still feel like it's a bit unfair and cover joint expenses with my own account more frequently as his 20% is so much smaller than mine. 50/50 could maybe work if you both earn similar amounts but otherwise there's one person with an awful lot less money they get to keep than the other and I don't know how their partner is okay with that. It's against what a serious relationship is about to me, you're supposed to be on the same team in life.

AlmondMilkMaybe · 2026-03-27T10:37:59+00:00

It should be proportionate IF the higher-income person wants to maintain their lifestyle. For example, if you want a $3000 couples vacation, and she can only afford half of a $300 weekend trip, asking her to go 50/50 would render her financially irresponsible and eventually depleted. This should apply to food, housing/neighborhood, recreation, etc.

However, if you both are okay with living humbly, based only on what she can afford, then I could see 50/50 making more sense, at least until you are married (at which point, it won't really matter).

prettywords_ · 2026-03-27T11:11:47+00:00

Whatever works.

I don't pay towards the mortgage at all, but I split other bills 50/50. It works for us because I make less than him.

Theawkwardmochi · 2026-04-03T16:05:39+00:00

I side with your friends here, 100%.

The way I see it, if my partner makes, say, exactly 50% after tax of what I make after tax, whatever split we have on whatever household expenses, if their resulting disposable income is any less than 50% of my resulting disposable income, I should be ashamed of myself, because I allowed their financial situation (in relation to mine) to worsen, which means I'm cheap, lack class and failed as a partner. I wouldn't allow my man or my woman to be worse off being with me, I'd aim for the opposite. It's a matter of self respect.

I've never been the lower earner in any of my relationships, I was the higher earner in most, but if I was, that's the kind of treatment I'd expect - or leave, because I don't appreciate lack of consideration. If you care about that lady, I strongly recommend you look into this.

Skyecastre · 2026-04-12T20:20:49+00:00

I have to say that you must not love her very much, or at all. She’s making a lot less than you are. I think if you really cared for her, you naturally wouldn’t want her to have as much of a financial burden since you make so much more.

I think you should leave her. This is clearly only a relationship of convenience. I’m sure if you suddenly found a woman that you really wanted, you wouldn’t hesitate to pay for everything, regardless of how much she makes.

Intelligent-Insight · 2026-03-27T07:15:59+00:00

If budgets are separate, then 50/50 obviously. Or, in general, proportional to what you use, but both benefit from rent/bills equally so 50/50.

Think about it, if you to a restaurant with a group of friends, do you split the bill proportional to income? No, everyone pays for what they ordered or split equally. Unless, of course, they agreed in advance to cover someone. For example, they didn't want to go because they couldn't afford it or aren't getting paid until next week or something and their budget is too low. That applies to your case, too. The answer is 50/50 by default, but you can discuss and negotiate. If she is not ready to pay more than some amount, then if you want to move into a more expensive place, you cover the rest. Or you can choose a cheaper place where 50/50 works. Or if rent and bills are already within her budget, then 50/50 already works.

YourMrFahrenheit · 2026-03-27T09:33:35+00:00

Girlfriend of how long? A year? Ten years? A week?

Strider291 · 2026-03-27T11:15:16+00:00

My wife (fiancee at the time) and I split rent and other expenses 50/50 while we were in law school. There were periods of that one of us made significantly more than the other.

Now that we are married and I make around double, we split based on income (~66/33%). I think this is equitable, but I would not have agreed to it prior to marriage.

PotentialPresent399 · 2026-03-27T13:51:44+00:00

All the pink labels here saying "wow can't beleive shes putting up with that"

Would hoot and hollar saying "SIS KEEP YA COINS" "He can pay half he STILL makes 150k a year"

If it was the man making 150k year.

This sub has so many femcels tucked inside it.

imo I think you should be paying MORE, but not all.

She can pay like 1k-2k per month. Its to make her still have skin in the game.

Perfect-Reading-761 · 2026-03-27T14:44:04+00:00

Based on income, this is the fairest way

Repulsive_Hunt_9897 · 2026-03-27T19:15:46+00:00

What the fuck are you doing risking your finances even cohabitating with a poor

She could go to a lawyer after a year and do a fucking number on you bro

Title	Should couples moving in together split rent 50/50 or based on income?
Author	throwaway164_3
Upvotes	0
Comments	57
Date	March 25, 2026 6:59 PM UTC (4 months ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/1s3julm/should_couples_moving_in_together_split_rent_5050/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/should-couples-moving-in-together-split-rent-5050.1576478 https://theredarchive.com/post/1576478

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