How to split an Airbnb or vacation rental with friends
Someone books the house, some arrive later, others skip the wine: with a Partly group, everyone pays their real share of the stay and the groceries, no spreadsheet needed.
Free with ads: 3 active groups, 5 AI scans and 5 payment links per month. Others join the group in the app, by link or QR code.
- House rental (7 nights)
- €1,800.00
- Groceries for the week
- €360.00
- Final cleaning fee
- €60.00
- Stay total
- €2,220.00
- Each of the 4 staying 7 nights
- €420.00
- Each of the 2 staying 4 nights
- €270.00
Rental as “Custom amounts”: €350 for 7 nights, €200 for 4 nights (€50 per person per night). Groceries and cleaning split equally between all 6.
The awkward questions in a shared rental
- One person pays the deposit and the balance, often weeks before the trip.
- Not everyone stays the same number of nights, so an equal split feels unfair.
- Groceries, the final cleaning fee and fuel add up day by day, paid by different people.
- Back home, nobody remembers who already paid back what.
Split a vacation rental in 4 steps
- 01
Create a “Trip” group as soon as you book
Add first names and send the invite link: people join in the app. Add the deposit right away, even before you leave.
- 02
Split the rental by nights
For the rental, choose “Custom amounts” and enter each person’s share based on their nights (or their room). The total must match the price paid.
- 03
Groceries and outings as you go
Whoever pays adds the expense: the amount, or a photo of the receipt read by AI. For an expense that doesn’t involve everyone, remove the people it doesn’t apply to.
- 04
Wrap up the trip
On the last evening, “Wrap up this trip” shows who owes how much to whom. Pay each other back by bank transfer, PayPal, Venmo or Revolut and record it in the group.
What changes for a rental with friends
Custom amounts
For the stay, everyone pays by nights or by room; everything else can stay equal.
Grocery receipts read by AI
Snap the receipt: items and prices are read, you check them and assign anything personal.
Import booking confirmations
A booking confirmation (Airbnb, train, flight…) can be imported as text, photo or file to pre-fill the expense.
Balances everyone can see
Everyone sees what they paid and what they owe in real time. No need to wait until you’re home.
Splitting a vacation rental: FAQ
How do you split an Airbnb when people stay different numbers of nights?
Work out a price per person per night (total price ÷ everyone’s nights added up), then enter the rental as “Custom amounts” with each person’s share. Groceries can stay equal.
What about a bigger room or a couple sharing a room?
Same idea: with “Custom amounts”, put a higher amount on the bigger room, or use percentages if you agreed on a ratio.
Does the security deposit count as an expense?
Not while it’s refunded. If part of it is kept, add only the amount withheld as a group expense.
Does Partly pay the host for me?
No. Partly never moves money: it works out who owes whom. Everyone pays back the person who covered it, by transfer or payment app, then records it.
Do I need a connection during the trip?
For an expense in another currency, yes (exchange rates). Saving offline and syncing later is a Premium feature.
A vacation where money comes up only once
Download Partly, create the trip group and send the invite link.
Updated October 3, 2026