Being a van dweller is not for everyone. Still, you might be surprised at just how many people are choosing to free themselves from the stress and boredom of being tied to a mortgage or a stuck-in-place apartment rental.
But what happens when we long to be free from convention filled with unbridled consumerism? A way of life in which we no longer wish to live?
Could van dwelling be your answer? Perhaps. Van life and mobile living have been trending on social media for years. If done the right way, it can be a cheaper, simpler way of life that offers you more freedom and independence.
Van Life versus House Life
Many people hold the misconception that van life means being homeless. Not true. The great majority of van dwellers choose this lifestyle to save on expenses and to secure a degree of freedom and independence that was missing from their lives.
Van dwelling is not only a more economical alternative, but it also offers the opportunity to move faster toward important financial and personal goals.
Therefore, a more accurate way to think of van dwelling is that it can be a money-saving strategy while providing an alternative lifestyle to nurture one’s passion for travel.
However, if van life is born solely out of financial necessity resulting from economic hardship, this article can help you stay grounded and make sensible, budget-conscious decisions that hopefully lead you to a faster and smoother financial recovery.
Let’s consider how van life differs from conventional living.
Four main reasons why van life has become a trend
- Lower living costs
- Travel and adventure
- More quality time to spend on what matters
- Opportunities for personal growth
Cheaper living costs
The biggest difference between van life and house life is the costs. In 2023, van life may cost between $1,000 to $2,000 per month or more for single travelers. This is much less than the monthly household expenses of a single person, averaging $3,400.
Thanks to paying no rent or mortgage, it is possible to live more cheaply in a van. The extra monthly savings can contribute to your financial goals, pay off debts, or support medical treatments.
See below for a breakdown of the common van life costs.
Travel and adventure are a part of life
When you live in a van, your home goes with you. There is no commute to work – you can park right outside your job site. When the travel itch comes around, you can go without having to worry about a house sitter. When the weather does not agree with you, you can move to a better climate.
You have more quality time to spend on what matters to you
Granted, at the beginning, you will have to work to sustain your new life. If you are living on less, you would not need to earn as much as before. That translates to potentially less work and more free time.
This also means you will have more time to spend on hobbies, learning new skills or cultivating a new path for yourself. Many van lifers have active outdoor hobbies. Even if you don’t, you can still nourish a personal project in your own time.
Opportunities for personal growth
Many van dwellers emphasize the chances for personal growth on the road: learning useful skills, overcoming challenges, staying open-minded, and coping with uncertainty. However, we believe that this is not exclusive to van life. You can have personal growth anywhere, anytime, in a house, an apartment, or a mobile home.
Rather, in van life, it’s said that you have little choice but to grow. Before you can move into a van, you must decide the most valuable things to keep, and what to get rid of. To stay within budget building out your van, and living costs, you will have to get handy, learn some basic repairs, acquire wilderness survival skills, etc.
Van life will push you to the edge of your comfort zone and beyond it. The entire process is an uncomfortable learning curve that forces you to grow. Many types of people relish the challenge because it means having the chance to build a new type of life.
Would that be something you would want for yourself?
How van life can be more challenging than living in a house?
Don’t let the Instagram hashtags fool you – van life is not easy. Living in a house or an apartment is way more comfortable and potentially safer than living in a van – that’s why the majority prefer it.
In a van, you must always clean up after yourself. No leaving the dishes in the sink. Being economical with food, water, and power helps stretch your budget and keeps you going longer. Going to the bathroom needs preparation and planning. You likely cannot shower as often as you like.
Love to sip some coffee in sight of a spectacular mountain top? It takes at least 30 minutes to set up and break down camp. Internet connection can be hit-and-miss outside of metropolitan areas.
Planning an efficient route to save as much money as possible is a meticulous and hands-on task – Google Maps and common GPS do not cut it. You will need to have a plan in case of theft, breakdowns, and medical emergencies in the middle of nowhere.
You will be at the mercy of nature. Sleeping in nature, parking lots, or campgrounds, you do not have much control over outside noise and light. While a lakeside is a soothing place to fall asleep at, birds chirping in the early morning can be deafening. Be mindful of pest seasons, such as mosquitoes and blackflies on the East Coast.
In short, you must be comfortable with discomfort, makeshift, and constant strategizing. The other side of exploration is uncertainty, which can be anxiety producing for the uninitiated.
How to Keep Van Life Cheap
Van life can be as cheap or as costly as you want it. Here we offer a cheap way to go about it.
Start with the basics: start with a build as basic as possible and add more bells and whistles as you go along to spread out the costs.
Go slow: drive less, drive slowly, use cruise control to maintain a consistent speed, and avoid driving on windy days. Doing so will save money on fuel. Compared to the West Coast, the East Coast is best for shorter drive times, with pockets of civilizations closer together. You will get more power stations and Wi-Fi access in the East.
DIY your van: save money on maintenance by doing your own van conversion and mechanical work as much as possible.
Go for freebies: Learn about cost-saving tips like where to park for a few days such as staying on free campsites in national/state parks.
Be self-sustained: save money on living expenses by cooking 99% of your meals, keeping food in a cooler, having plans for showering, and going to the bathroom in the wild (you must practice Leave No Trace policies to protect nature).
Find cheap gas: get cheaper gas by pumping from stations away from highways to get cheaper prices and use tools like GasBuddy.
Inexpensive storage locations: learn about the different types of storage facilities for the things you leave behind.
Join loyalty programs: get discounts on campgrounds and park passes.
Van Life Costs
There are two types of costs:
- Start-up costs: split into two stages: buying and building your van.
- Recurring costs: ranging from $800 to $2000 per month, depending on your lifestyle.
Start-up costs
It’s a good rule of thumb to split the start-up costs like this:
- Buying the van: 60% – 70% of the cost
- Repairing and/or building the van: 30% – 40% (50% for older vans)
Since you are considering saving on rent, you may be looking at living a van life for quite some time. If you can afford it, consider investing in higher quality and more expensive components in your van build. This can save you recurring costs on maintenance, repair, and fuel.
For example, a diesel engine lasts longer than a gasoline one, but gas is cheaper at the pump. Also, if you are going for gas, it is good to know that gas on the West Coast tends to be $2 – $4 more expensive than in the South and Midwest.
A newer vehicle can be more expensive to maintain. You should go for an older, DIY-friendly van to keep maintenance costs at half the price of newer ones. A used van may start at around $5,000 on the Facebook marketplace or Craigslist.
Let’s consider the factors that influence the startup costs:
- Where do you usually park?
- What are your must-haves?
Where do you usually park?
The answer influences the type of van to go for.
Stealth camping: this is parking in urban areas. It’s called ‘stealth’ because sleeping in a vehicle is illegal in most states (legal in New York City, though, just so you know). You would likely need a newer, ubiquitous cargo van that does not draw attention or suspicion.
It should also fit into an urban parking space. Better yet, choose one with no window to discourage the prying eyes of police or unfriendly locals. Noise ordinances also prevent you from running loud power generators.
Boondocking: this is parking off-grid on public lands – state/national parks or BLM lands (Bureau of Land Management – West Coast only). These places offer free camping but without any facilities (no showers or electricity). Your van can be older and look more obvious, with more exterior add-ons like an awning and a pop-top. For all the exploration, a 4-wheel drive (4WD) is more helpful for rough backroads.
What are your ‘must-haves’?
Do you need a full-sized bed or just a folded mattress? How about a built-in cooktop or a simple camping stove will do? What about the bathroom – will you have access to public toilets? Can you answer the call of nature in the wild? Doing so, you will have to practice the Leave No Trace policy, meaning pooping into a hole at least 200 feet away from a water source and packing out your toilet paper. These must-haves influence the costs of your van build.
Recurring vehicle costs
Often called ‘the rent’ for van life, these costs cover:
Fuel for the vehicle: to keep it cheap, travel long distances in the winter when fuel prices are lower.
Fuel for cooking and heating: it varies greatly from place to place. A larger propane tank costs more to refill but lasts longer than butane. Also, consider alternatives such as alcohol.
Note: when using propane heating, make sure to check the CO level in your van to avoid intoxication.
Auto insurance: the most cost-effective option out there is Roamly – van life insurance. They offer specialized coverage for full-time van dwellers. Otherwise, check out the RV insurance from Progressive, State Farm, and Geico for a comprehensive package that covers both your van and the possessions in it. These cost between $60 – $200 per month.
Personal expenses
Since insurance and food mostly stay the same as house life, we only list the expenses that apply to van life:
Showers: gyms, swimming pools, truck stops, campgrounds, and state parks all have paid showers. They cost between $5 to $17.
Laundry: laundromats, campgrounds, and RV parks have laundry facilities.
Internet: shared plans from mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are super cheap.
Paid campgrounds: from $10 to $50 per night when you need to use the facilities such as showers, trash disposal, water, and electricity. It’s worth paying for this occasionally. Sign up for memberships with Good Sam, Escapees, AARP, and state park passes for discounts.
Health insurance: if you plan to stay in your home state, hop onto the ACA health insurance exchange. It does not cover non-emergencies outside of the registered state. Lower-income individuals may be eligible for Medicaid.
Roadside assistance: memberships ranging from $57 to $177 per year.
Earning Money in Van Life
There are two main ways to make money in van life:
- Seasonal work, including non-techie work
- Remote full-time work, which requires you to work on your laptops and technical gear
Seasonal work
Seasonal work is very common among van dwellers who crave freedom and flexibility. Your employers include resorts, hotels, music festivals, touring concerts, and event organizers.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of seasonal work:
- Meditation instructor
- yoga instructor
- house and industrial cleaner
- boat cleaner
- handyman
- farm workers during harvests (sugar beet harvests pay well)
- logging and ranch hand work
- customer support reps (call centers)
- direct marketing: online or door-to-door sales
- fitness and sports coaching
- camp counselor
- retail jobs
- ski instructor and ski lift operator
- food vendors, parking, security, site ops, trash crew, bartenders
If you have a stable internet connection and stay within urban areas, sign up for app-based gig work such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Taskrabbit.
If you work in nursing, you can also earn good money as a travel nurse working monthly contracts in hospitals. Certified nursing assistants with two months of training and six months of experience can also pick up jobs that require traveling.
There are plenty of opportunities when you are willing to offer your skills at the right time and in the right place!
Remote full-time work
Van dwellers working full-time remote jobs have much less time to enjoy their lifestyles compared to seasonal workers. Once their online businesses take off, they can earn even more money than a regular salary. Many former professionals have been able to negotiate a move online for their current jobs or get fully remote jobs.
Several van dwellers out there maintain websites and social media channels that earn money through affiliate programs, membership programs, sponsorship, content creation, or product sales.
We have written elsewhere on this site about the ways to make money as a digital nomad, which also apply to van lifers.
The difference for van dwellers is an internet connection – it is way trickier to get a connection while boondocking for free. You either need to invest in a Starlink satellite internet connection, which is pricey, or sign up for an unlimited cellular data plan and stay inside the service coverage map. Those parking in urban areas can use public libraries or cafes, and those working from their van can place their laptop on a small table or steering wheel.
Making Van Life a Reality
Before making van life a reality, you will need to build a fund for it. Many van lifers sell their possessions and work extra hours for up to a year before making the switch. Meanwhile, learn all you can about building your van.
Choosing a van for under $30,000
You can go for $100,000-worth luxury builds, or you can go for a $5000 budget rig. The low-cost popular choices under $25,000 are:
Chevy Astro van: priced from $2,000 to $7,000, the most affordable for van life. Small space, semi-poor gas mileage. The older vans have barebone, outdated interiors. This van needs more customization to go off-road. They are best if you plan to stay in one place most of the time.
Ford E-Series (Econoline): prices start from $6,000; this van is best for urban stealth camping but not for tall people due to its low roof. Its large interior gives you plenty of space.
Also, consider a Ford Transit Connect, another compact cargo van for stealth camping.
Conversion van: ranging from $1,500 to $30,000, these vans have a former life as Dodge, Chevy, or Ford vans, now converted for leisure travel.
Stepvan: boxy vehicles with former lives as delivery trucks, good for stealth camping. It has a step leading up to the driver’s compartment and lots of room inside.
VW Westphalia: priced between $15,000 to $45,000 with less conversion costs, as it comes with two captain’s chairs, a little kitchen with a stove, fridge, sink, and a bed. A pop-top lets you walk around in your van. But the places you can drive it to may be limited. It looks too obvious for stealth camping, but cannot go off-roading or onto difficult terrains (not for mountains, sand, or snow).
Winnebago Rialtas: in the same price range as VW but roomier. The van can sleep 4. Best for families.
Nissan NV: priced from $24,000 to $26,000, affordable, and stealthy. Compact, easy to drive, and has great mileage.
Parking your van
States that are most friendly to van dwellers are South Dakota, Texas, Florida, and Nevada. South Dakota stands out for low auto insurance rates, low registration costs, lack of income tax, and a quick and easy registration process. The state is highly recommended by van dwellers looking to establish residency to make their lifestyle easier.
Also, check out this Bureau of Land Management guide to find states in which overnight public parking is allowed.
You have more choices of public lands on the West Coast, but since fuel is more costly here, it is cheaper to stay put for the 14 days allotted before moving to a new spot. The East Coast’s humidity may make it hard to keep condensation under control.
What makes a good location for parking your van?
- No constant rain and clouds (if you have solar energy).
- Good internet coverage (4G LTE in most areas and 5G in big cities).
- Plenty of free camping space on public land.
- Parking lots at big-box stores are allowed (use the AllStays app to find these).
- Locals are tolerant of van dwellers.
Also, consider these two useful apps to find places with driveway hosting services (with an annual subscription fee):
Harvest Hosts: farms, breweries, and vineyards that allow van lifers to park for one night in exchange for a purchase from their business.
Boondockers Welcome: parking on private property for up to five nights.
Power system for your van
Read this comprehensive guide for setting up a full off-grid power system for your van. Here is a simple guide for a straightforward system.
The easy way:
Get a portable power station. Some may come with solar panels. A power station is weak and likely cannot power consuming appliances, like a stove.
The more complicated way: battery bank
Your van’s power system runs on batteries which are 12V DC power, not the AC power in houses. For the battery bank, you will need:
- battery: always go for a Lithium Ion battery instead of AGM, unless you plan to stay below freezing temperature.
- cables
- a fuse block
- a kill switch
- a bus bar
- a breaker
To plug in some AC appliances such as laptops or microwaves, you will need to set up separate AC wiring, including:
- an inverter
- an AC junction box to protect the electrical wiring
- a cable, a breaker, and a fuse block
- AC power sockets (choose the universal one if you plan to travel overseas)
The AC wiring is also necessary to hook up to mains power, for example, on campgrounds.
How to charge all those batteries?
While driving, you can harness the excess power from your alternator to recharge your battery bank. This is the most budget-conscious option, but it will not fully charge your battery.
To make this more efficient and avoid overworking your alternator, you may want to consider using a battery-to-battery charger. You will again need a cable and a DC breaker for it.
If you plan to go off-grid for several days, you will need solar panels that can harvest enough energy for your consumption. Refer to the above guide for how to calculate this.
As a rule of thumb, chasing the sun in warmer climates will harvest more energy than cruising high altitudes in winter. Your roof space is also a limiting factor for how many or how big your solar panels are. For solar power, you’ll need:
- battery monitor
- solar charge controller
For on-grid charging, also called shore power hook-up, you will need:
- dedicated smart charger
- AC and DC breakers
- Cables
- AC hook-up sockets
That would be a lot of cables lining your van. Also, get cable lugs and heat shrinkers to protect the wiring and keep a stable electrical connection.
Water system
For less than $60 in startup costs, you can get:
- 5-gallon water cooler jug
- collapsible camp sink
Many people go up to 20-gallon tanks and also get pump-to-pump water from the tank to the sink.
For a better-equipped water system, you will need:
- a freshwater tank
- waste water tank for grey water (drained from the sink and the shower)
Showers (free)
If you camp off-grid and have some privacy outside your van, try this free shower. First, prepare a wash kit:
- a small bucket
- 2 or more flannels
- a towel
- soap pump pack
To create some privacy, open your van’s back doors and hang a non-see-through drape or cloth to create a makeshift shower stall. Hang another drape to splash into your van’s interior. Then, follow these steps:
- get some warm water in the bucket
- wet a flannel and apply soap to it
- wash your body. Do not put the soapy flannel into the bucket.
- wet another flannel and wash the soap off your body. Keep doing this until you are clean.
- rinse off the soap one last time and dry yourself with the towel
- rinse all flannels in the bucket
You can also consider buying a solar shower. This is a waterproof bag with a black side that can soak up the sun’s heat to give you warm water. It comes with a shower head and tube to enjoy that easy water flow.
You can also get free showers at the sinks in these places:
- airports, train stations, bus terminals
- fast food restaurants with many travelers
- community facilities
Or pay a small fee to shower at truck stops, RV parks, youth hostels, swimming pools, or public showers. Public showers at beaches and boat marinas are also available if you keep a swimsuit on.
You may think that jumping into a lake or river is good enough as a shower, but be mindful of damaging the ecosystem there. Any chemicals from modern comfort may harm sensitive animals like frogs and salamanders.
Do not use soap, not even biodegradable soap. Only use soap at least 200 feet away from a water source. This applies to pooping, too – and remember to dig a hole.
Vanlife Gaming
Laundry
Laundry in van life is time-consuming – it could take up an entire morning or afternoon. Plan it around your trips into town or campgrounds.
If you do not want to pay for laundromats, try this laundry idea:
- Get a bucket big enough to hold your dirty clothes soaked in water just above the clothes’ level, with plenty of space left to keep the water from spilling over.
- Add some detergent.
- Seal the bucket tightly and make sure to secure the bucket from toppling over
- Go for a drive for about an hour or so.
The engine vibration will whoosh the clothes around like a washing machine.
- Do this again to rinse off the detergent with fresh water.
- Hand wring excess water from the clothes and hang dry them with a clothesline strung around a built-in awning or between your van and some trees.
The solar shower mentioned above can also be used as a dry bag to wash small items of clothing, such as a top or underwear. Put your dirty top into the bag with warm water, shake it hard to loosen the dirt, then rinse the clothes in clean water and hang them up to dry.
To wash heavy clothing and stubborn stains, you may need a brush and a washboard.
Insulation and ventilation for your van
Similarly, to insulate a car, you can use reflective window coverings or films to minimize heat from the sun. These should have one white side and one black side. Put up the black side during winter to soak up the sun’s rays. Flip it around during summer to reflect the heat off your van. Use a reflective windshield sunshade for when camping under direct sunlight.
Many van dwellers consider a ceiling fan a must-have. It minimizes condensation, prevents mold, and keeps a cool temperature inside during hot summer days. You can also choose a white van over a black van when planning to stay in hot places throughout the year.
The cheapest insulation materials are foam boards. Make sure to fill air gaps in between boards with spray foam or 3M Thinsulate to prevent moisture build-up. 3M Thinsulate or Havelock Wool are better choices if you have the budget for it. Also, cover your windows and floor with these materials for soundproofing.
Internet connection for your van
Always have a backup plan with the internet, especially if you are on the West Coast (the East Coast’s cell services tend to be more consistent). Sign up for data plans from two different major providers to get the maximum coverage. Verizon and AT&T have the biggest coverage areas. Before committing, make sure their coverage maps correspond to your planned destinations.
For the backup data plan, use it with a mobile hotspot or jetpack to avoid over-burdening your phone, especially if you work online.
If you absolutely must have the internet on the road and love to run off to the most remote corner of Earth, consider an RV cell booster.
A premium choice is Starlink satellite internet. It works where cell and Wi-Fi do not, like in the middle of a state park, wherever you get a clear view of the sky. With a start-up cost of $599, though, it is not for those on a budget.
If you stay in town, use the Wi-Fi from:
- local businesses (with a purchase)
- public libraries
- public Wi-Fi in cities and towns (use a VPN to protect your data)
Cooking in your van
The simplest setup:
- a camp stove
- a folding camping table
Keep matches or a lighter on hand when a button breaks. Also, match-lit stoves are cheaper.
As for cooking fuel, go for propane instead of butane to be able to cook outside in cold weather. Propane tanks are also refillable, easy to find, and better for the environment. You will also need good windscreens when cooking on a windy day.
Cooking utensils that you can afford to go cheap:
- collapsible colanders, food containers, and measuring cups
- plastic cutting boards, camping dinnerware, cutlery and glasses
Utensils you should invest in:
- a good knife
- a good thermal mug with a big mouth for easy cleaning
- a portable 12V fridge or a cooler
Also, reuse any plastic food packaging as trash cans.
Van dwelling communities and resources
The van-dwelling community is strong, fun, helpful, and ingenious. Many of them maintain websites and social media channels (#vanlife, #camperlife, #vandwelling) with frequent updates.
Also, check out subreddits and forums (The Project Vanlife, Cheap RV Living, Expedition Portal).
Go to events such as the Midwest Gathering in May, Descend on Bend in the fall, Asheville Vanlife Rally in September, and Go-Van in Canada. The communities on the West Coast are more developed compared to the East Coast.
Many van life relationships kindle online, and the eventual meetups feel like old friends.
Try Out Van Life by Renting a Campervan
Van life is fun and looks amazing on social media, but it’s not for everyone, and no one can do it forever. It is okay to be unsure if this will fit your needs and solve your problems or whether it would provide only a distraction and an escape.
The quickest way to find out is to rent a campervan and try things out for yourself. You will have the chance to make a lot of newbie mistakes, narrow down your must-haves, and scratch that travel itch.
