Scroll through #vanlife on Instagram and you’ll encounter over 7 million posts. Recurring motifs include sea-facing sunsets, inviting campfires, and interior vanlayouts that make you ache to live that life.
And, of course, dogs. If anything’s consistent about #vanlife, it’s that many and many pups are along for the ride.
Van living projects an image of beauty, freedom and thrift — after all, if your home is on wheels, you likely aren’t paying rent or a mortgage.
But what lies beyond those carefully curated snapshots? What does it actually cost to live in a van?
How #VanLife Actually Operates
There’s a grain of truth to the carefree, wandering portrayal of van living, but making that lifestyle sustainable requires a fair amount of effort.
If you’re thinking about packing up and hitting the highway, here are several things to understand about the practical realities of van life, both money-related and otherwise.
Expenses Follow You Even When You’re Mobile
Not paying rent doesn’t mean you’re expense-free. Like any way of living, van life demands budgeting to function smoothly.
Abigail and Natalie Rodriguez have been full-time on the road since February 2019. Beyond buying and converting their 2004 Dodge Sprinter — a conversion they completed themselves — they manage several recurring bills.
The couple routinely accounts for costs such as:
- Comprehensive vehicle insurance with roadside assistance
- Phone plan, including a mobile hotspot
- Website hosting and domain
- Adobe subscription for video editing
- Vehicle upkeep — eventually including a replacement transmission because they bought an older van
Those items, together with their largest outlays — groceries and fuel — amount to roughly $2,000 each month for the Rodriguezes.
One of the nicer aspects of life on the move is its adaptability: you can cut fuel spending by slowing your travel pace, and if you’d rather not pay for an RV park, you can boondock on Bureau of Land Management land.
You can also trim costs by spending extended time in some of the best states for van lifers — places where living is inexpensive, weather is favorable, and free camping options are easy to find.
And no matter where you roam, there’s usually room to save on groceries.
DIY Is Doable — And Often Smart, Even If You’re New to It
Alongside ongoing living costs, you must consider the van itself. Buying a brand-new custom conversion can easily top $100,000 — a price most people don’t have lying around.
Converting your own van can save significant money while letting you design a space that fits your needs. That’s why the Rodriguezes invested a year and a half converting their early-2000s Sprinter — time that also let them build up savings before leaving.
Jeff Chow, another vanlifer who shares his travels on Instagram, took a different approach: he bought a newer 2017 Ram ProMaster and handled the interior build himself.
His setup includes removable insulation, solar wiring and a dual-zone fridge — a relatively modest build compared with some of the high-end #vanlife showcases. Still, it’s dependable and suits his needs.
Chow paid $28,000 for the van and spent roughly $2,500 on upgrades. Because the vehicle is newer, he’s less concerned about big repair bills.
If you assume you need to be a master builder to pull off a conversion, think again. Many vanlifers, the Rodriguezes among them, began with little to no construction experience. They learn along the way and consider the process part of the journey.
How do they learn?
“YouTube University is your friend,” Natalie wrote in an email. “Trust me.”
There are also helpful resources like Parked in Paradise that provide numerous DIY guides.
It’s a Process — Not Instant Gratification
One thing Instagram doesn’t show is the passage of time. Converting a van into a livable, comfortable space takes time if you’re doing it yourself.
Unlike the Rodriguezes, who completed most of their build before leaving Charleston, S.C., Chow started living in his van before finishing upgrades, gradually shaping it into the home he envisioned while traveling.
Even with a factory-built custom van, life on the road brings surprises. Ongoing modifications and repairs are normal for most vanlifers, so don’t expect a one-and-done setup. Plan for maintenance costs much like you would for a house.
You Don’t Need Wealth — But Expect Trade-Offs
Many assume vanlifers are digital entrepreneurs or wealthy retirees, but that’s not always true.
The Rodriguezes, for example, saved roughly $25,000 so they could spend their first year traveling without needing to work. Since they started, they’ve also begun generating income as brand ambassadors via social platforms.
Saving that amount requires hard choices. Natalie, formerly a sous chef, and Abigail, who ran a photography studio in Charleston, made significant lifestyle changes to build their savings.
The couple moved from a 1,500-square-foot home into a small studio, allowing Natalie to stash half of each paycheck. They also canceled their Comcast service, reduced dining out, and even dropped — gasp — Netflix.
It’s Rewarding
Van life demands time, labor and money. But if it’s the life you truly want, the payoff can be immense.
“We get to constantly travel, see new things, experience new landscapes and cultures whenever we want,” Natalie wrote. “It is absolute freedom and constant education.”
Chow, who pursued this lifestyle partly because of a chronic health condition, said it transformed how he experiences life. “I can be bedridden for months at a time,” he explained. “If I’m going to be bedridden, I’d rather be bedridden with — right now, I have a view of the Sierras.”
So if van life calls to you, go for it.
“Sit down, do some research, make a plan, make a goal, and act on it,” Abigail advised in her YouTube video — speaking from inside the van she and her partner built with their own two hands, a dream, and a lot of determination.
Contributor Lara Benson contributed to this report.
