A shared household budget helps couples split joint expenses fairly without one person constantly recalculating. What matters is a model that fits your incomes and a fixed monthly routine. This guide compares the common models, works through them with one running example and gives a checklist for everyday use. It is aimed at young couples in studies and early career.
Short answer: The three common models for a household budget for two are equal halves, a split by income and an equal remainder. With €2,100 combined income and €1,348 of joint expenses (assumption), the partner earning €1,400 pays about €899 and the one earning €700 about €449 under a split by income. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- Decide which expenses are joint: rent, utilities, electricity, internet, broadcasting fee, groceries and household supplies.
- Choose a model that fits your incomes: equal halves, by income or with an equal remainder.
- Pay a fixed amount into a household account by standing order and discuss deviations once a month.
- The broadcasting fee is €18.36 a month and is charged per dwelling (as of January 2026).
- Build a small reserve for the unexpected and review the rule when income changes.
Which expenses belong in the joint budget?
Not everything has to be shared. A clear line between joint and personal expenses is sensible. Joint costs are usually housing, electricity, internet, the broadcasting fee, household groceries, cleaning supplies and appliances. Personal items stay personal: clothes, hobbies, your own insurance and phone contracts, unless you agree otherwise. The broadcasting fee is charged per dwelling and is €18.36 a month, so you pay it once together. Also check whether a purchase really benefits both of you before it is paid from the joint budget, and consult briefly on larger amounts.
Which models are there?
The three models are common practice, not distribution rules laid down by law. Only the broadcasting fee is set by law; all other figures are assumptions. The following example shows all three models with the same figures. Assumption: partner A has €1,400 a month available, partner B €700. Joint expenses are €1,348.36: €850 rent including utilities, €60 electricity, €30 internet, €18.36 broadcasting fee, €350 groceries and €40 household supplies. All amounts are assumptions for the calculation.
| Model | Partner A pays | Partner B pays | A keeps | B keeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equal halves | €674.18 | €674.18 | €725.82 | €25.82 |
| By income (two thirds to one third) | €898.91 | €449.45 | €501.09 | €250.55 |
| Equal remainder | €1,024.18 | €324.18 | €375.82 | €375.82 |
With equal halves, B is left with only about €26 for all personal spending, although the split looks equal on paper. A split by income distributes the load in a 2 to 1 ratio. The equal remainder puts both on the same financial footing but means A bears more than half of the joint costs. Which model fits is a question of fairness that you answer together.
How do you set up the budget in practice?
- Define the joint expenses and estimate the monthly amount from the last three months.
- Choose the model and calculate each partner’s contribution.
- Set up a household account or a joint pot and transfer by standing order at the start of the month.
- Have fixed costs such as rent and electricity debited directly from the household account.
- Pay everyday spending such as groceries with a card on the household account or reimburse against receipts.
- Once a month, briefly discuss the balance and adjust the contributions if something has shifted.
The pros and cons of a joint account are in Gemeinsames Konto in der Beziehung (in German). Liability for joint loans is covered in Haftung für gemeinsame Kredite. Both topics are deliberately not repeated here.
What do you do when income changes?
Students often have fluctuating income: a side job ends, BAföG changes or an internship starts. Agree in advance when you adjust the contributions, for example at the start of the semester or when an income changes permanently by a certain amount. A reserve equal to one month’s rent prevents a short-term shortfall from blowing up the household budget at once. How to plan your personal monthly budget is described in Budget Planning for Students.
Follow-up example, assumption: partner B finds a better side job, his income rises from €700 to €1,000, while A stays at €1,400. Combined income is now €2,400. Under the income model A and B bear the costs in a ratio of 7 to 5, and with unchanged joint costs of €1,348.36, A pays €786.54 and B €561.82. A is thus relieved by about €112. Exactly such shifts are the reason to recalculate the contributions at fixed intervals.
How do you document your agreements?
- A short note with the model, the contributions and the next review date is enough.
- Record which expenses are joint and which stay personal.
- Note how you handle repayments and advance payments, for example when one of you fronts a joint purchase.
- Keep receipts for larger joint purchases so it stays clear who paid what.
How do you avoid typical points of conflict?
- Different standards for groceries and household: set a monthly budget for food.
- Spontaneous purchases for the flat: agree a limit above which you consult each other.
- Unequal use, for example if one person uses more electricity or water: discuss whether to split flat or by usage.
- Lack of transparency: both should have access to the balance and receipts at any time.
- Old debts or instalments of one partner: treat them separately from the household budget and talk about them openly.
Frequently asked questions
Is splitting in halves always fair?
Not always. With clearly different incomes, equal halves can burden the weaker partner heavily. In the example, B is left with only about €26 a month under equal halves. A split by income or an equal remainder distributes the load more evenly.
Do we need a joint account?
Not necessarily. You can keep two separate accounts and transfer a fixed amount to a household account by standing order. What matters is that both keep an overview. The guide on the joint account describes the pros and cons.
How high should the reserve be?
One month’s rent can serve as orientation. The right amount depends on your incomes and obligations. What matters is that it is shown separately in the household budget.
Who pays the broadcasting fee?
The fee is charged per dwelling and is €18.36 a month (as of January 2026). It is one of the joint expenses. According to the Beitragsservice information for students, BAföG recipients who do not live with their parents can apply for an exemption. Check the current amount and the conditions with the Beitragsservice.
When should we review the model?
At the start of a semester, on a job change and when income changes permanently. A fixed review prevents dissatisfaction from building up.
How to proceed
- Write down your incomes and joint fixed costs.
- Calculate the three models with your own figures.
- Agree on a model and a review date.
- Set up the standing order and household account.
- Set a fixed monthly date for a short talk about the budget.
Related guides
- Familie, Partnerschaft und Geld: Der Überblick für junge Erwachsene (in German)
- Gemeinsames Konto in der Beziehung: Vorteile und Risiken (in German)
- Haftung für gemeinsame Kredite: Was Partner wissen müssen (in German)
- Zusammenziehen als Studierende: Finanzen vorher klären (in German)
- Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps
Sources: Beitragsservice, information for students (as of January 2026, in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
