Trip expense splitter: how to split a group trip fairly
The fair way to split a trip is simple: everyone pays as they go, everything gets logged, and you settle once at the end with as few transfers as possible. Here is how to do it, with a worked example.
Before you leave: agree on three things
- What’s shared. Usually lodging, car, fuel, groceries and group meals. Souvenirs and solo shopping aren’t.
- The group currency. Pick the one most people earn in. You can still log each expense in the currency you paid in.
- When you settle. “Within a week of getting home” stops balances from going stale.
During the trip: log it when you pay
The biggest source of fights isn’t the math; it’s the expense nobody remembers a week later. Log each expense right after paying: amount, what it was, who paid and who it’s for. In Parejo that takes a few seconds, and anyone with the group link can add their own.
- Uneven splits: if someone didn’t drink, leave them out of the bar tab.
- Couples: give a couple a weight of 2 if they share a room and count as two people.
- Foreign currency: log the price as charged (e.g. 850 MXN). Parejo converts it at the day’s rate.
A worked example: four friends in Cancún
Ana, Beto, Caro and Dani spend a long weekend together. Everything is shared equally.
- Ana paid the Airbnb: 12,000 MXN
- Beto paid the rental car: 4,000 MXN
- Caro paid two dinners: 3,200 MXN
- Dani paid nothing yet
Total: 19,200 MXN, so each person’s share is 4,800 MXN.
Balances: Ana +7,200 · Beto −800 · Caro −1,600 · Dani −4,800.
Fewest payments: Dani pays Ana 4,800, Caro pays Ana 1,600, Beto pays Ana 800. Three transfers and everyone is square.
Parejo does exactly this calculation for you. With any number of people, it never needs more than one transfer fewer than the number of people in the group.
At the end: settle and mark it paid
Open the Settle up tab, send each transfer by bank, cash or whatever app you use, and tap Mark paid. Then drop the summary image in the group chat so nobody has to ask “wait, how much do I owe?”.
Questions
What if a couple shares everything?
Give them a weight of 2 in shared expenses (Adjust shares), or add them as one member. Either way they pay double the share of a solo traveler.
What if someone skips an activity?
Untick them in “Split between” for that expense. They won’t pay any part of it.
Who should hold the money?
Nobody has to. Each person pays as you go and logs it. At the end, Parejo calculates the fewest transfers, so there is no kitty to manage.
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