How Much Does It Cost to Live in an RV?

Over time, the idea of living on the road has begun to appeal to a much wider audience, and much of this is because of improvements being made to RVs. If you are thinking about spending a year on the road, or even want to see what it would be like to live in an RV after retirement, you might be wondering what the actual economic breakdown of living on the road is. That is, “How much does it cost to live in an RV”? The truth is that there is a fairly broad range for costs of living when it comes to living in an RV. Read on…

How Much Does It Cost to Live in an RV: The Dollars

As far as actual reported averages, the cost of living in an RV ranges from around $1,200 per month to well over $3,000 per month, with many factors influencing these values. The average person will spend more or less depending on lifestyle choices, so we wanted to address where these numbers really come from.

Who is Traveling with You?

The first thing to consider when it comes to living on the road is how many people are traveling with you. It stands to reason that the more people you travel with, the more the overall cost will be. However, assuming you are traveling with friends rather than dependents, you can actually save money using this method by splitting costs. As a general rule, children will drastically increase the cost of living.

How Far Are You Traveling?

One of the biggest cost factors is how much time you are actually spending on the road. Gas prices may fluctuate, but they are almost never forgiving. If you are going to spend time driving around every single day, you are going to burn through a lot of gas which is going to cost more money compared to the person who is spending most of their time parked in RV parks.

How Are You Eating?

Whether you are on the road or living at home, the way that you eat will play a huge role in your monthly budget. If you are constantly eating out, you can count on spending a ton of money in this category. However, if you stock up on your favorite kitchen appliances and eat homecooked meals, this can be a great way to save on your overall cost of living.

What Are You Doing as You Travel?

The great thing about living in an RV is that you can easily spend time on the road exploring the world around you. The downside is that adventuring can be costly. Most people don’t think about the cost of certain attractions when they are on the road, but this can be a huge spending category unless you truly just want to park in the parking lot of these locations.

What Kind of Maintenance Does Your RV Require?

Your RV itself can play a huge part in determining the overall cost of your travels. If you are using a luxury RV, you might need more upkeep than the traditional RV user population. On the other hand, if you are going to be driving an older RV, upkeep might be part of keeping it alive. Regular maintenance costs may vary, but they absolutely must be accounted for.

What Is Your Bathroom Situation?

Depending on what kind of RV you are driving, you might or might not have easy access to a shower, which can result in extra costs. If every couple of nights you have to stop somewhere and pay for access to these kind of facilities, you can easily see how this might become a more costly expenditure.

How Are You Doing Laundry?

Plenty of people make the decision to invest in a washer and dryer combination for their RV, but not all RVs can support this or have room for it. If you are going to skip this and instead use laundromats on the road, this is another cost that you will need to consider. Laundromats generally cost about $10 a week minimum for one or two people depending on where you go, so remember to add this to your monthly budget. If you plan on having someone else handle your laundry, this number goes up.

How Are You Staying on the Grid?

Unless your plan is to live off the grid, chances are you will want some internet access. Fortunately, plenty of places sell hotspots with monthly subscriptions. This can bring your RV into the present with easy on-board Wi-Fi, but it does come with additional costs depending on how much internet you plan on using. Shop around to find the best deals here. Plenty of places run occasional promotions that make it easier for you to get a great deal at a low price.

Conclusion

Living in an RV comes with many of the same expenses that you might associate with living in a home, and a few more. Many are surprised to learn just how feasible this option is, which is why people are jumping at the chance to live life out on the road. When you ask yourself: how much does it cost to live in an RV? Remember, at the end of the day, this is determined by your lifestyle and the choices that you make.

Note: For more in-depth reading you might be interested in these paperback books:

A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV: Everything I Wish I Knew Before Full-Time RVing Across America

Secrets of RVing on Social Security: How to Enjoy the Motorhome and RV Lifestyle While Living on Your Social Security Income

Take Risks: One Couple’s Journey to Quit Their Jobs and Hit the Open Road

Living the RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road

RV Living Full Time: 100+ Amazing Tips, Secrets, Hacks & Resources to Motorhome Living!