The lease is signed, the boxes are packed, and then the receipts start: the truck, the deposit, a new sofa, a few things the kitchen is missing. Moving in together comes with a burst of one-off costs, and how you handle the first few often sets the tone for how you split everything afterwards.
The trick is to treat these costs as a separate category from the monthly bills, decide the rule before the money is spent, and keep a simple record. It takes ten minutes and prevents most of the awkward conversations.
The short version: list the one-off costs, split moving expenses equally, split big purchases equally or by income, share the deposit equally, and write down who paid for and owns what.
Step 1: List the one-off costs
Write everything down before the move so nothing surprises you later.
- Moving costs: truck or van rental, fuel, boxes, packing tape, helpers.
- Deposits and fees: security deposit, agency or application fees, first month's rent.
- Setting up: connection or installation fees for internet and utilities.
- Shared purchases: furniture, bedding, kitchen basics, cleaning supplies.
Step 2: Choose a split for each type
Moving costs: usually equal
The truck and the boxes benefit everyone equally, so an equal split is the simple default.
Deposits: equal shares
Each person pays the same share to whoever handles the landlord, and the refund is shared the same way. Agree beforehand that anyone who causes damage covers it from their own portion.
Big purchases: equal or by income
If you earn similar amounts, split furniture equally. If one income is much higher, splitting in proportion to income is common and feels fair to both people. Either works, as long as you both agree before buying.
Worked example: moving costs
Two people move into a shared apartment. The truck rental costs $180, fuel $45 and boxes $35.
- Total: $180 + $45 + $35 =
$260 - Equal split: $260 ÷ 2 =
$130each
Worked example: furniture by income
The couple buys $900 of shared furniture. One person earns $4,000 a month and the other $2,000.
- Combined income: $4,000 + $2,000 =
$6,000 - Higher earner's share: $4,000 ÷ $6,000 = two thirds, so $900 × 2/3 =
$600 - Lower earner's share: one third, so $900 × 1/3 =
$300 - Check: $600 + $300 = $900
An equal split would be $450 each. Splitting by income asks the higher earner for $150 more and the other for $150 less. Neither is wrong. What matters is choosing before the purchase.
Worked example: a shared deposit
Three roommates pay a $1,200 security deposit for the flat.
- $1,200 ÷ 3 =
$400each - When it is returned, each person gets the same share back, minus any agreed deductions
For a person who paid $130 towards moving costs, $600 for furniture and $400 for the deposit, the one-off move-in total is $130 + $600 + $400 = $1,130. It helps to see this number before moving, so nobody is surprised.
Keep a simple record
- Write down each payment. A short note in your phones is enough: item, price, who paid.
- Note who owns what. Things you brought stay yours. Shared purchases need a rule for who keeps them if you part ways.
- Settle quickly. Pay each other back within a week or two of the move rather than letting it drift.
- Keep receipts for the deposit. Photos of the home's condition when you move in help at move-out.
When one person pays more up front
Often one person puts the deposit or truck on their card. That is fine, as long as the other pays their share promptly and you both know the amounts. A quick transfer of the exact figure settles it.
Who pays for what, at a glance
| Cost | A common way to split it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Truck, fuel and boxes | Equally | Agree before the move who books and pays |
| Security deposit | Equal shares, refund shared the same way | Note who handles the landlord |
| Big furniture | Equally, or in proportion to income | Decide who keeps it if you part ways |
| Set-up and connection fees | Equally | Keep the receipts |
An ownership list you can copy
Write this in a shared note on both phones. It takes a few minutes and avoids confusion later.
- Mine: everything I brought with me.
- Yours: everything you brought with you.
- Ours: items we bought together, with the price and who paid.
- If we split: who keeps each shared item, and what the other person is paid back.
Messages you can copy
- “Before we move, can we agree how to split the costs? My idea is moving costs equally and furniture in proportion to what we each earn.”
- “I booked the truck for $180 and paid the fuel at $45. That makes $130 each once the $35 for boxes is added. Can you send your share?”
- “Let’s start a shared note of who owns what. It will help us a lot later.”
Do the sums in seconds
For other shared costs, the free bill splitter divides any bill equally or item by item. It runs in your browser, needs no account and nothing you enter is stored.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Related reading: how to split rent fairly, how to split utility bills with roommates and how to split groceries with roommates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should moving costs be split equally between partners?
Equal is the simplest and works well when incomes are similar. If one person earns much more, many couples split big shared costs in proportion to income, which feels fairer without being complicated.
Who pays the security deposit when moving in with roommates?
Usually everyone pays an equal share to the person who handles the landlord, and the refund is shared the same way. If one person causes damage, agree beforehand that they cover it from their share.
What happens to furniture one person already owned?
Anything someone brought with them stays theirs and is not part of the split. Only new purchases for the shared home are divided, and it helps to write down who owns what in case you separate later.
How do we split things like a new sofa or TV?
Decide who keeps it if you part ways before you buy. Splitting by income ratio is common for big items, and a quick note of who paid what avoids arguments later.
Do we need a written agreement when moving in together?
Not a formal contract for small amounts, but a short written note in your phones listing what each person paid and who owns what is enough and saves a lot of confusion.
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