How Much Does Van Life Cost & Our Surprising 6 Month Budget!$
How Much Does Van Life Cost & Our Surprising 6 Month Budget!$
How much does van life really cost? In this video we share a list of the most common expenses to include in a travel budget for anyone who plans to be living or travelling in a van. We also share a breakdown of our own expenses from the last 6 months we spent living in a van.
***For more tips about van life, check out our Guide to Van Life eBook here:
https://www.exploringalternatives.ca/guide-to-van-life/
Some of our expenses are quite high, like our gas and repairs, while others are quite low, like our campground fees.
Some people have been asking why our van repair costs are so high at $425 per month for 6 months and we probably should have explained that a little better. Sorry about that!
Our total repairs for the year cost $2500 and since we we use the van almost 100% in the summer, we divided that by 6 months instead of spreading it out over the full 12 months in a year which is probably why $425/month sounds so incredibly expensive.
In case it’s more helpful, here is a breakdown of what we spent on repairs & maintenance in 2016:
– Diagnostic + Battery Replacement: $276
– Oil & Filter Change: $51
– Diagnostic: $121
– Tie Rod Replacement and Steering Alignment: $900
– Caliper Replacement: $243
– Replacing Front Brakes: $752
– Oil Change & Fixing Loose Exhaust: $70
– Misc. Hardware: $137
TOTAL REPAIRS: $2550
Thanks for watching!
Mat & Danielle
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STAY IN TOUCH!
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Blog: www.exploringalternatives.ca
Facebook: /exploringalternativesblog
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COMMENTS
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VIDEO CREDITS
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Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by Mat of Exploring Alternatives.
Editing Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credits:
Mat of Exploring Alternatives
I remember a time not too long ago too. My van had trouble. In the end, it cost me 1500 us $. I was stuck in the middle of nowhere too. I ran out of money. Doing odd jobs just to pay for it too get fixed. The motel I was at let me shovel the snow out to help pay for my room. LOL. Good Times though.
In the United States, over the past two years (the last year in the Los Angeles area), I pay between $300 and $400 per month, including gas, insurance, registration, repairs, food, cell phone, gym membership, private mailbox and other miscellaneous expenses. With a monthly after tax income of around $4000 a month, I live on about 10% of that, while the other 90% is for investments and fun money. My monthly costs will drop once I leave for the international portion of my travels, so I feel like I am paying too much right now.
I’m a disabled widow and wheelchair bound and I want to do the van living. Do you think it’s possible on a very fixed income?
Great video, thanks!
Wow – that’s really reasonable given many factors, first and foremost, getting to see the countryside. Thumbs up and thanks for the share.
I’m two years away from pulling anchor. Looking at a 1988 v8 Ford Van and restoring and making my own. What do you think of me using a large buslike van?
well, you guys could have reached your "4 to 500 bucks a month" estimation if you had a better Van that supposedly didnt need that much maintenance…i mean, 425bucks A MONTH on maintenance?!!! sorry but thats just simply insaaaaaane…waaay too much….at that rate you could buy a whole new van at the end of the year
didn’t you spend any money on entertainment?
No gym membership, no dumping tanks, no campsite fees. So how are you showering parked at Walmart?
I notice in the comments people are comparing apples to apples.
In sticks and bricks you pay mortgage/ insurance/utilities/ repairs/ yard upkeep and transportation/ insurance/ gas/ repairs. In a van you combine it and add showers, water, campgrounds.
So if you compare your s&b, include both abode AND vehicle to get correct comparison. This includes whether or not you have vehicle payments.
I’m shocked front brakes cost that much. Eek! I have a 2012 e150 and I would have guessed under $250. Shows what I (don’t) know.
Listen, if I could spend ONLY $1000 per month, and save the rest, then that would be AWESOME! So you guys are making van life sound really good (to me) right now!
Lame video…….try again……redo it.
I’m in the United States and cost of living is cheap. If I go full time in living in my vehicle. I will be rich in 10 years because water and lights is free at the park I camp at. I do a bird bath in the bathroom there too. The list goes on and on. I’m thinking heavy about going full time. Right now I’m working 2 jobs to get a Nissan NV 2500 high roof.
I think this cost evaluation is very good and helpful. Many thanks for being so open with us. Though … few comments:
1. Daniel and Mat have travelled a lot in 6 months and this can explain the repair costs. for somebody who lives in a van in the city or the village and work part time – the cost will be much lower.
2. For those living in a flat – there are also maintanance costs that Mat and Daniel avoid by living in a van.
3. It is a good idea to budget for unexpected car related expenses by dedication 200 USD per month and this gives 2400 USD per year for emergency of annual/periodical costs. I see those expenses as an investment, as it extended the life of the vehicle, which is actually a home rather than a vehicle.
4. Do not forget the cost of a mortgage or a rent on an ordinarry accommodation – sometimes well above 1000 USD and this is without the utility bills, let alone the need of a vehicle for commuting to work.
5. After big repairs comes a period of less repairs and this can reduce the expenses in the next 6 months. An annual average of expenses may therefore be lower!
Many thanks for the wonderful presentation. As always .. both of you do it so so well !
$959/month? Get an apartment. Vanlife is about saving money. I stay in a converted cargo trailer. $40/rent, $10/gym, $25/gas (generator), No maintenance (2017 model), $0/insurance, $0/Wifi (Free). Use bathroom at gym or use compost toilet.
I pay all of that anyways just by owning a car. plus I pay rent. wow this is more cheaper lifestyle.
Can rent a house for that much.
Van life or no van life we are pretty fucked by the system.
That’s pretty bad. My mortgage is less than $500 for 1400 sqft, so I’d need to spend a lot less than that to justify a tiny or mobile house, but I think it’s still OK for vacationing. Especially since I prefer road trips and hotels are the biggest expense.
People think they are saving money on rent by living in vans but it’s probably more expensive!
If I want to support your channel but do not want to do Patreon do you have another way? Thank you for the videos!
You can rent a decent apt in MTL for that amount and sleep all day long.
I always knew this van life is "too good to be true" and glorified for no real reason.
Also, mark my words, any "one time expense" is never one time. So that will be approximately your monthly budget all the time.
great expense recap! What about internet/mobile expenses per month? I am a fellow Canadian and the cost of being connected in Canada frankly, scares me.
I’m from Alberta this would be $500 in u.s., we are ripped off here big time.
Thank you for the video 🙂
$959 Canadian = $757 US
Wow, mayb re we dont wasnt to consider this. It costs us less than this for apt. & all utilities.
Yes if you can’t do repairs yourself then buy a newer van that you can afford makes sense with cost of repairs
Silly question, but if it is grey water, can’t you just pour it out anywhere? I thought grey water was just water you used for showering or doing dishes etc.
Canad ee ans…that ‘splains it! At first I thought you were accountants!
This kind of lifestyle of only for people who either have a job that they can do from their own place(computer) or come from a wealthy family so you won’t need to work or worry about money in that case. Also, these kind of lifestyle seems to be only a trend in states like Washington or Oregon because i live in Miami Florida and i tell you…. I could NOT live in a van here.
I live in a decent studio apmt and have a car (cheap, but still) and my total spending is less than you paid for your van… humm
You can buy a rural house down in Texas for about $250 per month… Check out Marshall Texas, and similar.
yes i agree super lame video, you mean of i have a van id need to buy gas? wow i didnt know that, duh
Hey everyone! This is a great video! We are doing the same thing in Europe with a family of 5. If you are wondering what it costs to do this in Europe with a lot of people, check out our recent budget video at When In Rome Travels!
REPLY
I live in a house. And drive a car 20 miles to work every day. I have AC, shower, and full utilities. I pay 33% less a month than you. You. Fail.
Living in a van, down by the river doesn’t sound so bad anymore !
Do you guys full time in the winter? How much does it cost to heat up your van when temperature drops below 30?
Thank you for the video and especially thanks for showing the cost based on the van much love and happy travels 🤗
How much is monthly rent in Canada because if you’re trying to save money by committing to Vanlife it doesn’t seem very cost effective…
Food has got to be expensive eating out. That’s a big expense too.
But what is the comparison with normal life in costs in your country? Compare the $959 to normal life…
Don’t do vanlife ! It’s like a beautiful dream but in reality it is not !
That was very helpful. Thank you so much.
how only 66 for campgrounds…im assuming u have ur own power in the van and the gym membership is for mostly showering
Plus you need to save for a new van.
Good info, thanks! My mortgage alone is 1 1/2 times that. If that + food would be my whole cost of living, I’d be laughing!
Informative video, thanks. Despite food and other living expenses being “variable,” could you do a breakdown of your costs? It would be helpful. Thanks!
This is great. Thanks ever so much for posting.Cheers!