Various embodiments are directed towards allocating costs for a plurality of cost objects. In at least one of the various embodiments, a source object and a target object in a data model may be determined such that an allocation rule is used to define one or more cost allocations where the costs flows from the source object to the target object. Allocation rules that are part of a recursive allocation rule may be executed on the source object and the target object until a terminal condition is met. The cost value that corresponds to the source object may be modified based on the allocation rule and the generated cost value. This process may continue until a terminal condition is met. After the terminal condition has been met final costs value corresponding to the target object and the source object may be generated and displayed.