Free tool for couples
Living together vs. living alone
Moving in together is usually the biggest single change a couple makes to their money, and most people guess at the numbers. Put your two current budgets next to the shared one you are considering and see the monthly difference, the yearly difference, and where the saving actually comes from.
Comparison
Living together vs. living alone
Put your two solo budgets next to one shared one and see what moving in together really costs — or saves — each month.
Monthly costs
Rent or mortgage
Utilities & bills
Groceries
Internet, phone & subscriptions
Everything else shared
Fill in a few costs to compare living apart with living together.
How to fill it in honestly
- 01 — For the two "alone" columns, use what each of you pays right now, not what you hope to pay.
- 02 — For the "together" column, use the real listing you are looking at, and add the standing charges for the size of that place rather than your current flat.
- 03 — The comparison is simply:monthly difference = (both solo budgets) − (one shared budget)
Worked example
Two one-bedroom flats at €1,100 and €950, each with €140 of utilities and €70 of subscriptions, come to €2,470 a month. A shared two-bedroom at €1,500 with €190 of utilities and €90 of subscriptions is €1,780 — a saving of €690 a month, or €8,280 a year, mostly from rent.
Questions people ask
- How much money do couples save by living together?
- Rent is the big one: one shared home usually costs far less than two solo ones, and utilities, internet and subscriptions barely change with a second person. Many couples find 20–35% of their combined housing cost disappears.
- Which costs actually fall when you move in together?
- Rent, standing charges on utilities, internet, streaming subscriptions, and household basics you would otherwise buy twice. Groceries fall a little through shared cooking and less waste, but not by half.
- Can moving in together cost more?
- Yes, and often deliberately. Couples frequently upgrade to a bigger place or a better area, so the shared home costs more than either solo flat. Seeing the number makes it a choice rather than a shock.
- How should we split the shared home once we move in?
- If your incomes are similar, half each is simplest. If they differ noticeably, split in proportion to take-home pay so the rent takes a similar share of each income.
- What should we do with the money we save?
- Decide before it lands, otherwise it vanishes into daily spending. Splitting it between a shared emergency fund and each person's own savings is a common, drama-free choice.
Start the shared budget before you move
SharedNest gives the two of you one place for the shared bills, the split and the savings goal the move unlocks.
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