One of the questions I get asked most often is:
“How much does it actually cost to live in a van?”
The answer, like most things in life, is that it depends.
It depends on the van.
It depends on your lifestyle.
It depends on how much travelling you do.
And it depends on whether you’re trying to save money or simply live differently.
For me, the decision to move into a van wasn’t about adventure.
It was about finances.
I was carrying nearly £48,000 of debt and needed to make a significant change if I was going to get out of it.
Living in a van became part of that plan.
So what does it actually cost me?
The Big Saving
The biggest financial benefit is obvious.
I don’t pay rent. When i moved out of the flat, rent was £1105 per month.
That single decision changed everything.
Instead of paying hundreds of pounds every month towards housing costs, I can direct that money towards debt repayment, savings and building a better future.
Without the van, I genuinely don’t think I’d have made the same progress.
Fuel
Fuel is one of the largest ongoing expenses.
A van is heavier than a car and generally less efficient.
The amount you spend will depend entirely on how much you travel.
My lifestyle is probably different from many van lifers.
I still work a full-time job and my commute is relatively short, so my fuel costs are lower than someone constantly travelling around the country.
Insurance
Van insurance is another fixed cost.
It’s one of those bills that isn’t particularly exciting but has to be paid.
The cost varies depending on your age, driving history, vehicle and usage.
Maintenance and Repairs
This is where reality occasionally bites.
Living in a van means your home and your transport are the same thing.
When something breaks, it matters.
I’ve already experienced unexpected costs including tyres, a failed MOT and a replacement windscreen.
Those bills can arrive without warning.
One of the lessons I’ve learned is the importance of maintaining an emergency fund.
The van saves me money overall, but it still requires investment and maintenance.
Food
Food costs haven’t changed dramatically.
I still eat.
I still buy groceries.
The main difference is how I prepare meals and how much storage space I have available.
The RidgeMonkey has become one of the most-used items in the van, allowing me to cook a surprising range of meals in a very small space.
Electricity
One advantage of the setup is that I generate much of my own electricity through solar power.
Combined with a power station, this means many of my day-to-day electrical needs are covered without needing to plug into mains power.
The initial investment wasn’t insignificant, but the ongoing running costs are very low.
So How Much Does It Cost?
The honest answer is that I spend significantly less than I would if I were renting.
That’s the entire reason I made the move.
Van life isn’t free.
There is fuel.
There is insurance.
There are repairs.
There are unexpected costs.
But for me, the numbers still work.
More importantly, they work well enough to allow me to pursue goals that previously felt out of reach.
Would I Recommend It?
That depends on your reasons.
If you’re considering van life because you think it’s an easy life, I’d probably say no.
It comes with compromises.
There are inconveniences, privacy is almost non existent.
There are days when things are more difficult than they would be in a conventional home.
But if you’re looking for a way to reduce your costs, simplify your life and focus on bigger goals, it can be incredibly powerful.
Moving into a van hasn’t solved all my problems.
What it has done is create space.
Financial space.
Mental space.
The ability to make progress.
And for me, that’s been worth far more than the cost of living in it.
| Typical Monthly Costs | Cost |
|---|
| Fuel | £175 |
| Food & household | £275 |
| Mobile phone | £25 |
| Insurance | £50 |
| Road tax | £35 |
| Breakdown cover | £12 |
| Laundry | £15 |
| Maintenance fund | £100 |
| Miscellaneous | £113 |
| Total | £800 |