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About

Sharing a living space requires transparent financial agreements, especially regarding utilities. This tool helps roommates and tenants accurately estimate and split the cost of electricity, gas, and water based on meter readings. Unlike simple splitters that just divide the total by the number of people, this estimator applies "Tiered Pricing" logic found in most modern energy contracts.

Tiered pricing means the first block of energy is cheaper than the subsequent blocks. For example, the first 100 kWh might cost $0.10, but everything above that costs $0.15. This calculator accurately computes the weighted average cost before splitting it among roommates. It eliminates arguments by providing a clear, math-based breakdown of the total owed.

bill splitting roommates utilities electricity cost rent calculator

Formulas

The Total Cost C is calculated using a piecewise function based on usage u and the Tier Limit L.

C =
{
u × R1 if u L(L × R1) + (uL)×R2 if u > L

The Split Amount S per person is simply the Total Cost divided by the number of people N.

S = CN

Reference Data

UtilityUnitAvg Base Rate $Avg Tier 2 Rate $Tier Threshold
ElectricitykWh0.120.18> 500 kWh
Natural GasTherm1.101.45> 50 Therms
Waterm31.502.20> 15 m3
InternetMonth50.00N/AFlat Rate
TrashMonth25.00N/AFlat Rate
SewerHCF4.505.10> 10 HCF

Frequently Asked Questions

Utility companies often charge different rates depending on how much you consume. This is to encourage conservation. The "Baseline" or "Tier 1" rate applies to essential usage, while "Tier 2" or "Tier 3" rates are significantly higher penalty rates for excessive consumption.
Your meter is usually located on the side of the house or in a utility closet. It displays a running total of consumption (like a car odometer). Subtract last month's reading from this month's reading to find your current usage.
This tool is designed for quick estimation. Browser-based local storage features may be implemented in future versions, but for now, we recommend taking a screenshot of your configured rates for next month.