How Much Does Van Life Really Cost? A Complete Breakdown
Van life looks effortless online. Everyone’s posting their coffee cups with a sunrise backdrop and a perfectly parked Sprinter on an empty road with the doors flung open. But once you start digging into the details, the one question that always comes up the fastest is: How much does van life actually cost?
Short answer: it’s probably more than you expect. Long answer: it depends on how you travel, how comfortable you want to be, and how well your van is built.
While van life can be cheaper than traditional living in some ways, it can also get expensive fast without realistic expectations.
Ready to see some real-world numbers? Let’s break it down.
Upfront Costs: The Van & The Build
The Van Itself
Your van is both your vehicle and your home, so this is the biggest upfront investment.
Used cargo vans: $20,000–$40,000
Used Mercedes Sprinter vans: $35,000–$55,000
New Mercedes Sprinter vans: $55,000–$75,000+
Sprinters cost more than many alternatives, but they’re popular for a reason. They offer interior standing height, solid drivetrains, modern safety features, and strong resale value—all important when you’re living out of it full-time or for long trips.
The Build
This is often where van life budgets begin to look very different from one another.
DIY builds: $8,000–$20,000
Professional conversions: $40,000–$100,000+
Some people take the DIY route and invest a lot of their own time along the way. For the right person, that can be a rewarding process, but it usually comes with a learning curve as well as plenty of trial and error.
Professional builds aren’t cheap, but they come with properly designed electrical systems, solar, insulation, plumbing, cabinetry, and layouts that actually hold up over time. Cutting corners here often leads to costly fixes later.
Fuel
Fuel costs are one of the biggest variables in van life.
Slower travel: $200–$400 per month
Frequent travel: $500–$1,000+ per month
How often you move has such a huge impact on your budget. Staying in one area for a while keeps fuel costs manageable, while covering long distances every week adds up quickly. Fully built vans are heavier, which means fuel efficiency matters, especially on extended trips or cross-country routes.
Camping & Overnight Parking
Very few people spend nothing on parking every month.
Free camping: $0
Campgrounds and RV parks: $300–$700 per month on average
Free camping on public land is a huge perk of van life, but most people don’t rely on it exclusively. Paid campgrounds, RV parks, and occasional overnight stays with hookups provide access to showers, laundry, water refills, and an easier reset. Mixing free and paid stays is often the most realistic and sustainable approach.
Food
Food costs tend to be higher than people expect.
Groceries: $300–$500 per month
Eating out and the occasional (or frequent…we won’t judge you) stop for coffee: $150–$400 per month
Cooking in your van saves money, but groceries still add up, especially when storage space is limited. On the road, food often becomes part of the experience—local restaurants, coffee shops, and spontaneous stops are hard to resist. Most van lifers find their food budget lands higher than it did when living in one place.
Insurance
Insurance is an ongoing cost that varies widely.
Van insurance: $100–$250 per month
Converted vans can sometimes be insured as RVs, depending on the build and provider. Coverage costs depend on the value of the van, where it’s registered, and how it’s insured. Either way, insurance is a non-negotiable part of full-time or extended van travel.
Maintenance & Repairs
Maintenance is inevitable when your home has wheels.
Routine maintenance: $100–$200 per month
Unexpected repairs: variable
Oil changes, tires, brakes, and general wear all come with the territory, especially if you’re logging serious miles. Even well-built vans need attention, and unexpected repairs can show up at inconvenient times. This is why having an emergency fund is one of the most important parts of a van life budget.
Connectivity & Power
Staying connected is part of modern van life.
Phone and hotspot plans: $100–$150 per month
Solar system (one-time investment): $5,000–$12,000
Reliable cell service is essential for navigation, work, and staying in touch. A solid solar setup is a bigger upfront investment, but it pays off long-term by reducing dependence on campgrounds, shore power, and generators. Well-designed solar systems support daily power needs like refrigeration, lighting, device charging, and sometimes air conditioning, while allowing you to stay off-grid longer. Over time, that flexibility translates to fewer paid campsites and more control over monthly expenses.
The Real Monthly Cost of Van Life
When everything is added together, van life usually costs more than the ultra-cheap numbers floating around online.
Slower-paced van life: $1,200–$1,800 per month
Comfortable full-time travel: $2,000–$2,800 per month
Fast travel with frequent paid stays: $3,000–$3,500+ per month
Van life isn’t automatically cheaper than renting, it’s just different. Instead of rent and utilities, you’re paying for mobility, maintenance, fuel, and flexibility. The biggest mistake people make is assuming van life will be dirt cheap without adjusting their travel habits or expectations.
Is Van Life Worth The Cost?
Van life isn’t about spending as little money as possible. It’s about choosing what matters. For many people, trading fixed expenses for freedom, flexibility, and experiences is well worth it. Going in with realistic expectations makes all the difference between feeling stressed and actually enjoying life on the road.
Get Yourself A Van Built For Real Life On The Road
At Earth Ship Vans, we build Sprinter vans designed to handle long miles, off-grid living, and everyday life easier without constant fixes or compromises. Every system, from solar to storage, is designed to make life on the road seamless and stress-free, so you can focus on exploring.
If you’re ready to take your van life dreams from idea to adventure, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get your Earth Ship on the road.