How Much Does Van Life Cost? Complete Cost Breakdown [Updated for 2024]

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How Much Does Van Life Cost?

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Van life cost varies, but generally the cost can be anywhere from just under $1,000 up to $2,000 per month.

Van life can be incredibly rewarding. 

Few things in the world offer a true sense of adventure to quench the spirit like living on the road and having the freedom to travel to your heart’s content.

However, while the cost can be low, there’s a lot of planning involved. There’s lots to think about, such as:

  • Gas
  • RV insurance
  • Campground reservations
  • Travel plans
  • And much more

The better you plan the more you can keep costs down, as well as keep from being surprised by unexpected expenses.

With that said, let’s dive into the details to give you a better idea of exactly how much van life would cost you based on your needs and preferences. 

Van Life Costs: A Complete Breakdown

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Now that we’ve covered an overview of how much van life might cost you, let’s dive into the details.

What are the major costs of living in a van or RV that you should be aware of? What costs are upfront one-time considerations and what costs are recurring?

Here are the major costs you should consider:

1. Cost to Purchase and Convert a Van: Price varies

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The cost of converting a van comes down to:

  • What you want in your van
  • Whether you convert it yourself or use a company

If you’re purchasing a new van for conversion, you’ll typically need to spend or finance $40,000+ new. 

However, you can always save a good bit by purchasing used, you’ll just need to make sure the vehicle you’re purchasing is in good condition. 

Converting your van will then cost you an additional sum depending on how you go about doing it:

  • DIY: $10,000-25,000
  • Through a company: Anywhere from $50,000 – 250,000 depending on the company and the extent of the conversion. 

If you’re serious about van life and you plan to do so long-term, you should consider purchasing a Class B RV.

Don’t let the name fool you, a Class B RV is a van with all the amenities of an RV.

New Class B RVs can be incredibly comfy and offer tons of luxury. They start at a higher price point than a new van, but not by much, then you have to consider the cost of converting the van.

In the end, the cost of purchasing a Class B RV tends to be equal to, or less than, converting a van in exchange for a higher quality vehicle. 

The one trade-off is you don’t get the custom job you’d get with a van conversion.

2. Gas: $250-500

Likely your third or fourth greatest expense, gas adds up fast driving a larger vehicle such as a van around. 

Gas prices can vary wildly from state-to-state, so it all depends where you’re traveling. 

However, a general range is $200-500 per month, and potentially higher depending on how much driving you’re doing and where.

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You can use AAA’s state gas prices page to find out average gas prices in the states you plan on traveling to get an estimate of what you’ll spend.

3. Campsites: $0 – 1000 per month

An unexpected cost if you’ve never traveled in an RV or van before is paying for campsites.

All throughout the country there are campsites where travelers can rest for one or multiple days. Some of these campsites are free while many others charge for entry, usually between $15-40 per night. 

You can plan to stay mostly at free campsites, though you’ll typically be giving up several amenities (which you may or may not care about). Keep that in mind and figure out beforehand what you’re willing to give up. 

4. RV Insurance: $100 – 200 per month

RV insurance is a must, but fortunately the cost isn’t too high. 

Typically, it will run you about $100-150 per month but it can be higher depending on your van’s specs and coverage. 

If you’d prefer to go for more coverage to be safe, you’ll likely pay closer to $175-225 per month.

5. Gym membership: $20-50

A gym membership isn’t required, but it is handy if your van doesn’t have a shower.

A gym membership is a cheap and easy way to get access to showers across the country for a low price, typically in the $20-50 range.

6. Food: $300 – 1,000 per person, per month

Food is another major area where cost varies greatly depending on preference and location.

Some can get by on a few hundred dollars while others prefer to buy their coffee every day or splurge on other food-related items.

There’s nothing wrong with either preference, what is important though is knowing your number. 

How many are in your travel group and how much do you expect to spend on everyone together?

This will be one of your greatest monthly expenditures, so getting an accurate idea of this number is important. 

7. Maintenance: $50 – 100 per month

Maintenance is an “irregular” cost, meaning it doesn’t come up monthly but does pop up often enough that you’ll want to put month away each month in reserve.

Typically, putting away somewhere between $50-100 per month is enough to pay for all annual maintenance. 

Keep in mind that this only covers maintenance such as oil changes, replacing tires, etc. It does not cover unexpected repairs.

8. Additional costs

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To finish off our list, we wanted to cover every base by listing out some additional but less common costs of van life.

These are things that may or may not apply to you, but are common enough that likely a few apply to you and should be factored into your overall cost.

Those items can include:

  • Recreation
  • State/National park fees
  • Firewood / Propane
  • Toll fees
  • Laundry

Keep in mind that we’ve omitted common expenses you’d be paying for if you lived normally in an apartment or house. However, they still apply and should be taken into consideration.

That can include things like:

  • Phone
  • Internet/Wifi
  • Streaming services
  • Health and other insurances
  • Toiletries

Don’t forget to keep these “normal” expenses in mind when calculating your total van life cost. 

How to Cut Costs and Be Economical Living In a Van

If you’ve gotten to this point, and done the necessary research to figure out how much van life could cost you, you may have come to the realization that you’ll need to cut back a bit.

Van life can be extremely economical, you just need to know where to cut back and what you’re willing to give up (if need-be).

Here are some ways to save much more than just a few dollars:

1. Cook your own meals

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The difference between cooking your own meals vs. buying food regularly can easily be hundreds upon hundreds of dollars per month.

Plus, cooking is generally much healthier. 

It will require a bit more planning and store trips, so don’t feel guilty about the occasional lazy drive-thru dinner.

However, if you make cooking your norm you’ll be able to shave quite a bit off your food bill on a given month. 

2. Use free and dispersed campsites whenever possible

Paid campsites are popular, but if you stay at only paid campsites throughout an entire month you’ll be looking at potentially as much as $1,000 in campsite fees.

Instead, look to mix things up and stay at free campsites as much as possible to save at least a few hundred dollars per month (or more). 

3. Cut back on digital entertainment

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Don’t worry– I’m not asking you to cancel Netflix. 

However, if you currently pay for multiple streaming services like many of us do, consider cutting it down to one or two to save a bit.

Multiple streaming services can add up quickly and chip away at your budget. 

Plus, you’re on the road. You’re supposed to be enjoying the great outdoors, right?

There are many more ways to trim your budget to make things work. So, get creative and look at what you’ll be spending on to get a better idea of where you can cut back.

Van Life Is Rewarding, But Plan Accordingly

By now, you can probably tell that the cost of van life is just about whatever you want it to be.

It’s more about knowing what you want, what you need, and what you can do without.

Put it all together, see where you end up, and figure out if you need to cut back at all. 

Having the freedom to explore the country to your heart’s content is a rare and beautiful thing, but careful financial planning is required to make the most of it. 

We hope this breakdown and the accompanying tips help you on your journey.

This post may contain affiliate links. Check out our disclosure for more information.

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