Work Guide · Budget

Van Life on a Budget: Real Numbers for Your First Year on the Road

What van life actually costs in the first year — vehicle, build, insurance, food, camping, and the expenses most guides skip. Real numbers, not aspirational math.

The YouTube Version vs Reality

The YouTube version of van life costs $800/month and involves waking up at sunrise in a national park every morning. The reality is more complicated. Some people do live on $800/month in a van. Most people spend $1,500–$2,500/month, especially in the first year when unexpected expenses are highest and efficiency is lowest. This guide gives you the real numbers so you can plan honestly.

The Vehicle: Your Biggest Upfront Cost

New vs Used

A new cargo van (Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster, Mercedes Sprinter) costs $40,000–$55,000 in 2026. A used van with 80,000–120,000 miles costs $15,000–$30,000 depending on make, model, and condition. Most first-time van lifers buy used. The risk is mechanical reliability — a used van that needs a new transmission or engine in your first year can cost $3,000–$8,000 in repairs.

The practical advice: buy the newest used van you can afford with the lowest mileage. A 3-year-old Transit with 40,000 miles for $28,000 is a better investment than a 10-year-old Transit with 150,000 miles for $12,000. The older van will cost you the difference in repairs within two years.

The Build Cost

A basic van build (insulation, bed platform, basic electrical, simple kitchen) costs $2,000–$5,000 in materials if you do it yourself. A professional build costs $15,000–$50,000+. Most first-time van lifers do a DIY build and upgrade over time. Budget $3,000–$5,000 for a functional first build that you will improve as you learn what you actually need.

Monthly Expenses: The Real Breakdown

Vehicle Insurance: $150–$300/month

Van insurance is more expensive than car insurance because vans are classified as commercial vehicles by many insurers. If you are living in your van, you need to disclose this to your insurer — some policies exclude coverage if the vehicle is used as a primary residence. Progressive, National General, and Roamly all offer policies specifically for van lifers. Budget $150–$250/month for comprehensive coverage.

Vehicle Maintenance and Repairs: $200–$400/month (averaged)

This is the number most van life budget guides skip. Vans need oil changes every 5,000–7,500 miles. Tires wear out. Brakes wear out. Things break. If you are driving 1,500–2,000 miles per month, budget $200–$400/month for maintenance and repairs averaged over the year. In months where nothing breaks, you save the money. In months where something breaks, you have the buffer.

Fuel: $200–$500/month

Fuel cost depends entirely on how much you drive. A cargo van gets 15–20 MPG. At $3.50/gallon, driving 1,500 miles/month costs $262–$350. Driving 2,500 miles/month costs $437–$583. If you are staying in one place for weeks at a time, your fuel cost drops dramatically. If you are constantly moving, it is your biggest variable expense.

Food: $300–$600/month

Cooking in the van is significantly cheaper than eating out. A van lifer who cooks most meals spends $300–$400/month on food. A van lifer who eats out frequently spends $500–$800/month. The single biggest food expense lever is whether you have a working fridge — with a fridge, you can buy real groceries and cook real meals. Without one, you are buying shelf-stable food and eating out more.

Camping: $0–$400/month

This is the most variable expense in van life. Free camping on BLM land and national forests costs nothing. A campground with hookups costs $30–$60/night. Most van lifers mix free camping with occasional paid camping. Budget $100–$200/month for camping if you are primarily free camping with occasional paid nights. Budget $400–$600/month if you need hookups regularly.

Health Insurance: $200–$500/month

This is the expense that surprises most people who leave traditional employment. If you are self-employed or working gig jobs, you pay for your own health insurance. Marketplace plans through healthcare.gov cost $200–$500/month for a healthy adult depending on your income and the plan you choose. This is non-negotiable — one emergency room visit without insurance can cost more than a year of premiums.

Phone and Internet: $80–$270/month

A T-Mobile unlimited plan costs $80/month. Adding Starlink for boondocking costs $150/month more. See our internet on the road guide for the full breakdown.

The Real Monthly Total

Adding it up: insurance ($200) + maintenance ($300) + fuel ($350) + food ($400) + camping ($150) + health insurance ($350) + phone/internet ($150) = $1,900/month. This is the realistic baseline for a solo van lifer who is reasonably frugal, cooks most meals, and mixes free camping with occasional paid nights.

The YouTube version of $800/month is achievable only if you have no vehicle payment, no health insurance, drive very little, eat very cheaply, and camp for free every night. It is possible. It is not the median experience.

How to Actually Afford Van Life

Save Before You Go

Have 3–6 months of expenses saved before you hit the road. The first year has the highest unexpected costs — repairs, gear you forgot, things that break in the build. Having a buffer means these costs are inconveniences, not crises.

Work on the Road

The most sustainable van life is van life with income. Remote work, seasonal jobs, workamping, freelancing — any income stream that travels with you makes the math work. Browse current job listings on OGS to find work that fits your route. Create a free Trekkie profile so employers can find you wherever you are.

Reduce Fixed Costs

Cancel subscriptions you do not use. Eliminate storage units (sell or donate what you are storing). Pay off high-interest debt before you leave. Every dollar of fixed monthly expense you eliminate before hitting the road is a dollar you do not have to earn on the road.

The First Year Is the Most Expensive

The first year of van life is the most expensive because you are still figuring out what you need, buying gear you will later replace, and making mistakes that cost money. By year two, most van lifers have optimized their setup, know where to find free camping, have a reliable income stream, and are spending significantly less than they did in year one.

Do not judge van life by your first year. Judge it by your second.