Is It Cheaper to Live In an RV? A Complete Cost Breakdown

If you’re considering transitioning to living in an RV full-time, there’s a lot to consider.

At the top of the list (whether we like it or not) is the cost. 

You may have heard that it’s significantly cheaper to live in an RV, but before you read much further, know that’s often not true.

However, that’s not to say it’s not more affordable depending on your lifestyle and where you currently live.

Below, we’ll break down whether it truly is cheaper to live in an RV vs. a typical house or apartment. 

We’ll also talk about what the average monthly costs are of full-time RV living, and whether it’s really worth considering purchasing a new RV to transition to RV life.

Let’s start from the top: is it cheaper to live in an RV?

Is It Cheaper to Live In an RV vs. a Home?

Living in an RV can be cheaper than in a house or apartment, but not always. 

It depends on a variety of factors, from the type of RV you have to costs such as your RV loan’s monthly payment, RV insurance, campsite fees, food, and more, each of which you’ll need to estimate for yourself.

Here are a few of the most important points to consider when determining not just how much living in an RV will cost you but if it will be cheaper for you to live in an RV vs. a home:

Where you live

For example, do you live in Tennessee or California? 

The amount you’re used to paying for rent or a mortgage and even things like fuel costs and groceries can vary drastically between states, especially states like California and New York. 

The more expensive your state, the more savings you’re likely to see moving to a full-time RV lifestyle. Gas prices in California are often significantly more expensive than most of the rest of the country, with similar factors affecting other states. 

Learn more about what states allow you to live in your RV full-time without any fuss: What States Allow You to Live In an RV?.  

Also, keep in mind that whether you live in RV parks or mostly do boondocking (or a combination) will affect how much living in an RV costs you as well.

Within that conversation of RV parks, there are also campsite frees for staying at RV parks like national parks (and state parks), other more standard and affordable parks, and RV resorts that charge a higher fee, so it also depends on the types of parks you stay at.

Lifestyle

Just as there are different financial lifestyles which you can adopt living in a traditional home, there’s lots of variance in how people live from their RVs. 

Some costs you can do away with, such as utility bills (other than internet) and property taxes. However, other costs can vary depending on your choices. 

Do you pay for 5 different streaming services, frequently buy Starbucks or other coffee from wherever you can find it, and buy only organic foods? 

Nothing is wrong with any of that, but they’re things that will impact how much you spend.

Don’t read stories online of minimalists who can get by on $2,000 per month and believe that applies to you if you’re happier splurging on yourself regularly.

If that’s the case, that’s absolutely fine. Do what makes you happy. But you need to factor that into your cost to RV full-time. 

RV cost

How much will you pay per month for your RV?

Are you buying a used RV outright (i.e. you’re paying nothing per month)? Are you buying a used RV? Or buying a new one?

The price of those three cases will be vastly different and accounts for a big part of your monthly cost as well as where that cost goes (i.e. maintenance costs on a newer RV are lower, but you pay more per month for the RV).

Average Home Prices are Skyrocketing, RV Prices… Not So Much

Before we move on to breaking down the average monthly cost of full-time RV living, it’s important we point something out.

Those in the RV space will be able to tell you that the cost of RVs went up over the past few years (before dipping recently). However, the price of purchasing a home has increased exponentially more. 

According to California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office, for example, monthly home payments have increased considerably in California within just a few years:

And similar reports can be seen across the country in many states. 

Regardless of any future increase in the cost of RVs, and regardless of the current cost to live in an RV vs. any type of home, there is a good case to be made that monthly home payments have become noticeably more expensive in many areas.

Plus, all evidence suggests that it will continue to go up at a faster pace than the cost of RVs, even if interest rates are slow to drop on RV payments.

So while this doesn’t necessarily mean that living in an RV will be cheaper for you, it is something important to consider when factoring in whether to go full-time in an RV. 

What Is the Average Monthly Cost of Full-Time RV Living?

The average monthly cost for full time RVers varies widely depending on a number of factors, but typically falls somewhere in the $3,000 – 5,000 range.

Some factors that can impact your final cost include:

• Campground fees: Free or cheaper campgrounds / boondocking vs. luxury RV resorts
• Entertainment: Streaming, ordering online, etc.
• Food: Making vs. picking up/eating out/ordering makes a big difference
• Maintenance: New vs. used RV can lead to vastly different maintenance costs

Full-time RVers do have additional costs beyond this, but these are the costs that fluctuate most. 

If you’re considering converting a van to live in full-time or will be purchasing a Class B, check out our full guide: How Much Does Van Life Cost? Complete Cost Breakdown. 

Additional Upfront costs

Lastly, it’s important not to forget the upfront costs associated with setting up your new full-time RV life.

Most notably, there is the cost of purchasing or leasing the RV, which can vary greatly depending on whether you’re purchasing with cash or buying used or new. 

That you’ve surely already taken into account. However, there is also the initial cost of gear and equipment you’ll want and need on the road. 

Including things like: 

• Water filter, treatment, tank softener
• Generator, possibly an inverter, solar panels
• Cleaning supplies
• Surge protector
• Storage buckets
• Tool set
• Roof sealant for covering leaks and protecting your roof
• And SO much more

The list goes on and on and on…

You don’t need all of this right now, and you might already have some of it, but these are all important things you shouldn’t go without. 

Another thing to think about is how the RV you purchase will affect your maintenance and insurance costs.

A newer RV will typically mean more affordable insurance and lower maintenance, but buying a used RV can mean some serious savings if you’re willing to be patient and shop around.

Is It Worth Buying an RV to Live In Full-Time?

Whether it will be worth it to buy an RV to live in full-time or not is dependent upon you, your lifestyle and preferences, goals, and your budget. 

If all of this aligns in a way that seems to suggest that full-time RVing will allow you to live the life you want, and you do the math and it makes sense for you financially then it’s definitely worth considering.

Living in an RV offers an unrivaled sense of freedom that is rare to find nowadays, and offers the ability to have truly unique experiences you couldn’t have rooted in a home (or as often).

With that said, there are things to think about that will affect your answer to that question, including your preferred proximity to family, whether you have young children, if traveling is safe for you (health conditions, etc.), and more.

Also, in case you’re wondering, the kind of RV, whether that be a travel trailer or Class C, B, etc. doesn’t really matter.

Class B vans are easier to maneuver but you’ll also have less storage. Travel trailers balance affordability with space and features but you’ll have to deal with lugging around a tow vehicle (or, more specifically, the other way around).

Class A RVs and fifth wheels are the biggest and offer the most storage, but they’re the hardest to maneuver and maintain.

Class C RVs are arguably the best all-around in terms of maneuverability, flexibility, storage, and comfort, though.

Another thing to think about is whether you buy a new or used RV. A new RV will mean a higher RV payment, while an older RV will mean more frequent RV repairs, which can add up to a lot of money over the course of a year.  

Learn more about the pros and cons of buying an RV: 8 Pros and Cons of Owning an RV: Should You Buy an RV?