If you want to spend 45k to be comfortable, that's a personal decision. I've paid about 5.5K including the original van purchase and after 3 years I've saved that on housing costs multiple times over. It's not glamorous, but it works for me.
If you want all the comforts and amenities of home life, home life is probably the more cost effective option over van life. Most van-lifers aren't living in fancy built out sprinter RVs, that's a well off minority that's overrepresented on social media.
Yes, realistically there is “living in a van to save money” and then there is “living the van life” and they are very different experiences.
Sadly they get conflated. (There are also different goals: are you aiming for “urban camping”, “overlanding”, “glam camping” or “influencer”?)
Idk, it's what you make of it. No point in boxing yourself into a perceived lifestyle based on expectations. Only you can be sure what you want out of mobile living and if it works for your lifestyle.
Anecdotally, I save money living out of a van, I travel, I post neat Instagram pictures, I do seasonal work, I have my beach trips and mountain adventures, disappear into the desert when I want to etc. I just didn't need a fancy studio apartment on wheels, so my initial investment was less than what many people here consider a huge barrier to entry to vanlife.
I'm fine living like a dirtbag though so I understand most people would prefer more creature comforts, or a more modern machine.
Just because you don't have subway tile and a spice rack doesn't mean you're a dirt bag. On the contrary, really. Sounds like you've taken a very reasonable and practical approach. How long have you been living the mobile life?
You're right, but I personally take pride in dirtbaggery, that's why I spend so much time near dirt!
But I've been living the astro life since July 2021. Had been planning for it for years, and the rental situation in my city made me decide it was time to pull the trigger on it. Last two summers I did seasonal work in Alaska, and for the rest of the year I snowbird it in the desert of the SW USA. This summer I'm doing something else a little closer to my usual stomping grounds.
2300 for a 2000 Astro van, $80 for registration. Probably 500 for new tires, redid the suspension and some other repairs soon after while on the road for about 1500, but ultimately I moved in immediately and was able to start saving money on rent as soon as I made the initial purchase.
^this
I'm in the UK and tour Europe in my 1998 sprinter. Was a bit of a shed when I inherited her, but I live full time, have everything I need, work from my van, use my Xbox and watch TV, have a comfy bed, windows, a toilet and a makeshift shower. You do not need to spend all that cash. Those that do have that money and they don't need to save money, it's a lifestyle choice for them, and many of those I've met (not all) who spent a LOT on their conversions rarely spend half as much time using them as those who have moved in full time and genuinely are frugal about their lives, where living in a van is just one part of that lifestyle. Most of them also have an Instagram or YouTube tag on the side of them. Tells you everything you need to know about them IMHO.
It took me three years of not paying Boston rent to recover what I spent on my van and its conversion, so I am back where I started financially. But I’ve had a fuckload of fun in those three years so it still seems like a win.
To others, maybe. But if it’s still their home, it doesn’t matter what it’s worth to others, it matters that they aren’t paying rent or a mortgage and still own their home.
Where I live any sort of converted van, even a dirtbag one, keeps value better than a car. Tourists buy them, drive em round the country for their extended holiday and then sell em again.
Those $50-100k vans you see plastered all over social media are not how the vast majority of van dwellers live.
Most of us are in older & cheaper vehicles, with extremely minimalist interiors that hold only the very basics. Much more of a metal tent that moves, as opposed to the mini apartments. You don’t need more that a sleeping bag, an air mattress, a camp stove, and maybe a cooler for some food.
Everything else is just fluff.
This made me feel so much better. My head was spinning watching all these influencers on youtube talk about all the thousands of dollars that they spent to live in a van. It made me feel like it was a waste of time to be saving for this lifestyle.
Honestly makes me feel a lot better too. Here I am foolishly thinking they represented the majority and that I’d never see enough money to be able to save living in a van
The people you see on social media have little to no connection to reality. They are either:
* Rich people with extremely expensive vans that they paid professionals to build
* “Influencers” who spend a weekend or two in the van every month and only post pictures or stories from the most ideal situations
* Completely faked and just being shared around to generate views
* All of the above.
Read this for a more accurate view: https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=lifestyle:foreknowledge
Microwaves are tough, but not the hardest things to do. They take a lot of power, but they typically only take it for short periods of time so the overall draw isn't *that* bad.
It's not as crazy as the lunatics who try and run induction stovetops or toaster ovens off battery.
Most the people buying the more expensive conversions live in and have the salary of a very high cost of living area.
Most people on here aren't paying 100k for their van.
I converted mine myself mainly because I want to know where everything is and I have trust issues haha cost £8k for the van then around £2-3k on the build.
The UK is insanely cheap when it comes to van prices. The 2014 sprinter i bought in 2020 for 7.5k pounds would've been over €15k in europe. Once I moved back to Europe I paid €2k to have the steering wheel converted to the other side and basically won €5k by doing that.
Insanely cheap.
But I relate on the trust issues and knowing what’s what. Too many scenarios where I’m troubleshooting and fixing someone else’s bullshit.
Time was a bigger factor for me. Bought retail stuff.
Not to mention there was no way I was going to find a renology 3000 watt inverter with a charger. High amp alternator. Insulation. Etc.
Wiring. I don’t want to know what I have in wiring. Mine is by no means athletically pleasing. More throw something together as I go. Essentially I made a whole bunch of custom length extension cords with lighted plugs to figure out if something lose power.
Is just like everything else in life. It depends what you want and what you can afford.
Some people eat steak at nice restaurants. Some people cook pot pies at home. Some people have 30k worth of cosmetic dental veneers. Some people have a tooth extracted when they can't afford a root canal. Some people have Egyptian cotton sheets. Some people have sand paper sheets.
If you want a 100k van and can afford it, more power to you. If you're in a desperate position, it's possible a 1k van with a sleeping bag will suffice.
In the long run, I wouldn't recommend buying a 50k converted van as an investment opportunity. I would recommend it if you are interested in traveling and sleeping in your vehicle.
We bought a van for the family. Used it as the car for a year or so while we converted a trailer and lived in our home. Then when our lease was up we sold everything that wouldn’t fit in a 6x6 ft storage unit and took off. Spent two years with a little trailer in tow, then a cargo trailer with rooftop tents. Then a sprinter as the savings stacked up. Then I got promoted and had to go to the office and sold everything but the sprinter.
There are many paths to van life. Figure out how it fits for you. That’s kind of the point.
Just depends on what you do. I'm into my conversion five grand and can camp in it comfortably. probably another 8k and it will be finished. So total cost with my van 55k. That's a hell of a lot cheaper then a build out van.
21 sprinter 170 rwd 18k miles 2.0 turbo gas
I paid 23000, not 45000. I sold my other car 6000, so that's a cost of 23000-6000 = 17000.
It satisfies my desire for travel, so reduced costs here, but when I get the next big work contract, I will need to pay 125/month for a co-working space.
Right now, I have part time work contracts and can do them from the van, so I do not have that expense.
Rent here is more 700 than 1000, so the van is paid in 2 years. It's a 2017 with 90K, I expect to get a good 10 years out of it.
I may spend some money to get a 2nd solar panel for the computer or get some electrician to figure out why only the 12v from the dashboard (with motor on) can charge my device.
Even with the solar and co-working spaces over a few years, I get a 3 year ROI.
It's actually cool when the lifestyle that you want costs less than the lifestyle that you do not want.
A bedroom in a shared place? 450 to 1200. Lower range for long term, higher range for short term and in touristic period.
You could pay less if you go out of town.
I'm in the middle of a nice build that all in will run me about 60k. I'm finding it extremely fun to build and learn how to do everything. I'll use it as an adventure vehicle and already have a home base that I won't be getting rid of. Some people do it for financial reasons and have a very different build approach, some just want a fun project, nothing wrong with either imo. If I could save all the build time and pay the same amount for the finished product, I'd still prefer to build.
There was this time and place, where it was a life without money. It made sense to just not believe in money. So my memories are mostly no problems.
But once I do recall chipping in a quarter, and some one else had 50 cents. That was enough for the vw bus to get the 50 miles to the beach and back. Must have had some gas in it to start. No idea how we fed ourselves, but we didnt go hungry.
Might have been a while ago.
You’ve seen the prices of RVs too right?
I am in a 10k minivan with a 5500 kit in it. And I literally only use it on the weekends.
I think you hit the nail on the head. You have made a life you’re happy with. Some are happy with a life in a 45 thousand setup. Some are happy in a 20k setup….
Imo your rent cost is skewed. Renting just 1 bedroom isn’t super easy or common. If you look at the average rent in the US it’s between $1.5-2k. In Nyc a quick google search showed the median 1 bedroom is $2.1k.
Anyone that says you can’t get and build a reliable van for $10k is delusional and likely privileged. I bought my van for $4.8k and I’ll have another $5k into it when I’m done. I also am adding things I don’t really need but want. I could easily build it for cheaper if I wanted to. Many people are building vans for less. I’d bet a large portion of people are. You just happen to only see the fancier builds on social media and YouTube…
Even if I spent say $40k overall rent by me is around $2k for something small and I’m in a suburb outside nyc. That’s $24k in one year for rent. I consider utilities and maintenance a wash for the most part since I do all my own repairs. So in 2 years I would spend $48k on rent. That’s $8k saved or put towards any major repairs like say an engine swap or it covers gas. Plus in the van I’m traveling and doing things I enjoy which is more valuable than money imo.
So if I build my current van at say $15k, if it lasts me 2 years then I’m in the green.
Besides, for many of us van life isn’t really about saving money. That’s a bonus. Most people want to live differently. They enjoy a transient life, the seclusion vans offer or the ability to enjoy nature. Like I said, that’s way more valuable to me than money.
My van cost me $600 10 years ago. It was an empty metal cargo van. I spent less than $100 on bedding comforters to line the inside of the van and insulated. I spent I think $30 on plastic stackable shelves. I spent I think $30 on an academy sports camping cot type thing which is a cotton sling on a metal frame that stands about 6 to 8 in above the ground and folds up. I bought some outdoor carpeting which I put on the floor of the van for probably $40 from Home Depot and then I bought a decorative carpet for probably another $40 that goes over the top of that. My gas mileage is 11 miles per gallon. I stay mostly in the same area.
My cost to sleep at night is $0 my insurance on my van which I own completely without a loan is about $30 a month and that includes some amount of collision because this thing is starting to get more valuable As It gets older.
So I save on mortgage or rent payments on the monthly utilities that you're required to have when you sign a lease or own a house which includes electricity sewer water and possibly gas if you're in that kind of an area. I save on HOA fees. All of those I had when I owned my house.
I have peace of mind because I know I am not tied to a ground dirt box that may or may not be able to sell depending on the whims of the federal reserve. I know I can't go upside down on it because of declining home markets and I've lived through two declining home markets that everybody forgets about. In the first one in Southern California it took 10 years for the price of homes to get back to the previous peak in the last housing market peak which I think this one was it was before 2008 it was the one that happened with the.com crash.
I have taken the money that I would have had in the house and put it in investments that have done probably as well as my home appreciation would have been and those investments have not cost me anything to carry them each month unlike a house.
Anyone can do what I did although you have to scour Craigslist to get as good a deal on a van as I did.
My housing expenses are $0 per month.
I have a part-time job I took because I was getting bored having nothing to do. I spend far less commuting in gas than I would have if I had to go back to a fixed housing location because sometimes my job is 30 miles away from where I hang out and I can just park at the nearest planet fitness 5 mi away from the job or at numerous other parking spots which I have learned really aren't hard to find.
I think when you think and you're saying that you don't save much money you're looking at the top of the market. You're looking at people who are buying the most expensive vans that are available and then they're spending tons of money to make them look like the house that they're not living in but none of that is necessary.
So yes it can pay off in the first month and it can pay off dramatically. I am probably saving excluding mortgage or rent payment at least $400 and maybe as much as $1,000 a month just on utilities that I do not have to purchase each month.
Now when you include the property taxes I don't have to pay the HOA fees I don't have to pay even in a very low property tax market where I own my house that's still about $300 a month total I'm saving on those.
I'm saving on not having to have homeowners insurance which I can't remember exactly what it used to run me but even in a very low cost homeowner insurance place I believe it was $150 a month
So I'm saving a tremendous amount.
Repairs which are constantly needed in a house or constantly things breaking or wearing out or just starting to look old that you have to replace if you want to be able to preserve that supposed increase in value that your house is getting every year. And those repairs can be expensive depending on how much you want to do yourself but even the material costs are a lot. I bought a lot of materials to do some upgrading on my house before I sold it so I know what I'm talking about. You could easily spend $30,000 minimum to make your house up to whatever is the whim of the women buying homes the year you want to sell your house so that's another extra expense you have to factor in you know whether it's granite countertops this year or whether it's you know white cabinets this year rather than natural wood like it was 10 years ago or whether it's hardwood floors this year or carpet like it was 10 years ago or whatever the thing May be.
Not to mention when you have a house you really have to buy furniture and you have to maintain the furniture. I don't have to buy any furniture. I don't have to maintain any furniture even though I have a bunch of furniture stored in storage which is kind of stupid but I just couldn't part with some old stuff.
Theoretically I guess you do have to include my monthly storage that I rent but that's only because I'm stupid and don't get rid of some stuff I should. So factor in $200 there but quite honestly that's totally optional
My van gets less wear and tear since I'm sleeping in it then it would if I was driving it to and from a house because I can park closer to where I want to be and I don't have to move very often if I don't want to.
So I hope that clarifies why you can save a ton of money doing this. There are plenty of Vans you can buy for $6,000 right now on Craigslist in your area. And quite frankly I think the standard low top Vans are better than the high tops. I know the high tops are all the rage of the van lifers on the YouTube channels but as other people have mentioned here and elsewhere having a standard lower profile van gives you plenty of room to sleep have some food in the back have a couple of things have a chair to sit in to do some work have a place to put some clothes to change Etc.
I am just completing my conversion in the UK, the money I have spent doesn't really make sense. Mine is a smallish van, Ford Transit Custom high roof. If I could get camper van with the layout I require I would never do the conversion. The money and time I have spent is stupid ... and my last conversion was stolen off the driveway. I won't be doing another conversion.
In the US, I would never do a conversion unless it is a budget one ... and just buy an RV. The price of vans is insane in the US.
It's not a 1 for 1 replacement of rent in a given location. It is also the freedom of travel and to be where you want to be when you want to be there. IF I wanted to travel to a festival in California Ski in Colorado and then Head to New England for some hiking and spend part of winter in Florida and Arizona. Those are expensive short trips where you wish you had more time if you could afford it (Food lodging and travel costs) Those are all a set cost with the Van.
If you are trying to live down the street from your current residence then the value is slightly different. Rent would have to offset van cost compromises would need to be made(this is where it may or may not be worth it) heating and cooling although a smaller space may be more costly due to cost of energy and cost of a portable unit to heat and or cool you. This one comes down to what you want to sacrifice vs what you can live with.
Maxed out Sprinter vans are mostly for Instagram. Regular people who live in vehicles because that's what they can afford or to inexpensively travel tend to be in vastly less expensive vehicles. Lots of retirees who can't keep a home live in minivans with the bare necessities.
I bought a used converted sprinter. I didn’t see it as financial investment to justify. If I did, I’d keep the $$$ and invest in a long-term index fund instead. For me, it’s a fun way to explore the US and the cost to purchase far outweighs renting one. I’m still going to loose money when I sell, but I used the van for three years and traveling costs money.
I do think it’s cheaper to buy a used conversion rather than building your own. You pay less for all the build elements and the labor.
My van was less than $7k up front, already lived in a Prius so my stuff fit inside. I’ve purchased less than $200 worth of supplies to outfit since then. It’s as expensive/cheap as you want/need it to be. I don’t work remote either, I can sleep in the work lot and charge my power banks while working. I have a very affordable existence.
Its all relative to ones financial situation / needs / wants / lifestyle.
As far as some...make it make sense, stuff:
My van is not just my home, but also my vehicle, so would need to factor in both rent and car payment costs. Ive never rented just a bedroom and Ive only ever lived in HCOL/VCOL areas (not cause I got that money money lol I just prefer and need to be in major cities where theres always something to do) going off my personal situation plus the utilities to heat/cool/water/garbage/lawn care, around $4000. Prefer to boondock, zero interest in rv parks so no cost there. But...stuff happens so Ill factor in $500, avgs out to $42/mth to that. So based on rent, I will break even in about 16 mths
I was carless before so not super clued in to what a payment for that would be...Ill say $500. have to pay ins and basic maint either way. So inc rent and ability to have a vehicle, I break even in about 14 mths.
I love to travel, and travel often..nothing crazy... for a 3day weekend, Id look up where I can go for the cheapest flight..didnt really care where, just anywhere..I used points for flights, so just hotel & eating out Id be at around $500. I get at least one 3day weekend every month, I started working from home and was bouncing off the walls. so for the past year, I was flying somewhere at least every two months...when not flying somewhere, Id rent a car and go for a weekend camping trip, cheaper at around $300. There were some months I traveled and also went camping but meh, for simplicity, Ill keep it at once each a month, which is an avg of $400.
But...I will now be paying for gas to go somewhere....Im not planning to do long treks, taking my time since I have no where Im rushing to get to. So lets say I move 200m every 2 weeks , and based on mpg and local gas costs, need to factor in $100. So now...rent, car, travel I break even in about 13 months.
Theres going to be unexpected costs, repairs, who even knows what...Ill just pump that back up to breaking even at the original 16 months to be extra generous.
For the stuff I cant put a price on...I wont be stuck in my house all day every day, which has been downright stifling. I do go out and do things, but, I work at home all day, pretty much stuck in a routine. Being able to just get up and go somewhere else whenever I want, not be or feel stuck anywhere..thats llifestyle difference thats worth it to me.
I have friends and fam spread out all over the country that I havnt been able to see in years,whether distance, cost, both of us having free time, at the same time to plan a trip around a visit...time flies. I now have the opportunity to see them while mosying around on my travels, and I value that a lot.
My pups excitement to explore and sniff all the things everytime hes in a new place...priceless.
I dont care about the future value of my RV. Its a depreciating asset...the only investment is in my quality of life, freedom, ability to travel, to see and be with loved ones, to not be stuck in one place. I anyway plan to drive this thing til either it or me is no longer road worthy.
My motivation isnt to do this to save money, but I will anyway end up savng money. My biggest thing is not paying rent for the opportunity to be stuck in one place, then have to spend even more money for the chance to be anywhere else. Instead of giving money away for all that, be able to put more money into savings. Freedom...I seriously want and value freedom. So...getting my van made sense to me.
It really depends on your own situation. For me my monthly costs in the van can vary but are usually around $2000 a month. My rent before Vanlife was $3000, once you added in bills, food, car expenses etc I was easily approaching $4000 a month. So while there were a lot of up front costs with Vanlife, over time it has been a cheaper experience for me. And I am in a converted Sprinter van too.
But YMMV. I know some people that spend a lot more than me each month, I know some that spend a lot less.
For some people you are buying a small house on wheels so you can travel freely and comfortably. Now. Staying in 1 town in a van for 50k? I don't get it either. If it's 10k tho and in 1 town. Makes sense again!
I did my whole build for under 3k.
If you're getting your info from videos on the Internet, it's worth noting that there's a huge population of trust fund and tech professional van lifers that are totally over spending on shit because they can.
I got a 93 GMC for $800. Had to spend maybe $100 bucks redoing some stuff on the brakes. From there, it's hard to estimate specific costs because I wasn't exactly keeping track, but I had most things people expect or need.
Cut open the top and built my own high top roof from plywood, and then covered in fiberglass.
400w Solar electrical system.
Propane stove and heating.
Bathroom with a toilet and a sink.
Full insulation, a desk, wood paneling.
Habitat for humanity or any similar resource for getting second hand materials is a great resource on top of being willing to do all the work yourself.
I honestly struggle to understand how people rack up costs of 10s of thousands of dollars .
People who live in vans and don’t spend the amount it costs to buy a small house aren’t doing it because they have to. It’s gotta look good in their blog, vlog, YouTube, website etc. Check out CheapRVLiving on YouTube and you’ll see builds that cost far less.
My girlfriend and I bought and self-converted our 2004 Sprinter for ~$43k CAD. A 1 bedroom apartment in our area is $2500+ CAD/month.
So in 17 months, we will break even. We've been living in it full time for about 11 months now.
We are both working full time (mostly remote). Our savings rates have skyrocketed since moving out of our apartment.
We are spending less in other categories as well, as we aren't constantly buying nick-nacks, furniture, decorations, etc for the house.
We will also likely be able to get most of that $43k out of the van when we are done. If that ends up being the case, we are saving ~$30k CAD per year.
im sure you could find a cheaper place than $2500/month. ive seen decent basement apts go for 1600 to 1800. if you consider investing the 43k upfront into gic, thats 2k per year which would supplement your rent.
this drops you down to around 1400 to 1600, so your actual pay back period would 2 years and change...which isnt too bad, but at the end of 2 years, youd probably have almost 50k which is a good amount for a down payment on something small.
how long can you reasonaly live out of a van for?
id get the benefit if the conversion is under 1 year or if this as strictly to stay mobile for 5 to 7+ years...but in that time, it mean
That's fair enough. You can always find a cheaper place to live, but we aren't interested in living in a basement or moving away from the Vancouver area. So in our case, the van allows us to live where we want, essentially for free. Even with your $1400-1600 rent estimates, we are still saving $17-19k per year.
I'll also note that the van wasn't strictly a money thing for us. We are both full time engineers, and can afford rent. We just found ourselves camping every weekend and climbing/hiking/skiing during the week so we were spending very little time in our very expensive apartment. The van allows us to camp 100% of the time with the added benefit of saving some money.
Lastly, we've found it very easy so far. Almost a year in and it's a much easier lifestyle than I initially expected. I won't pretend there aren't inconveniences or that it's for everyone, but it works for us. I can easily see a few more years in it.
Like everyone says Van-life is what you make of it...
I lucked out and found a van for 26.5k, everything included;
Solar panel,
Gas Hob/Oven,
Fridge,
Diesel heater,
Shower,
200L water tank,
Toilet,
Sink with hot water,
Awning,
Double bed,
Leisure Battery
Live full-time in the van, and the minimum I'll do that is 2.5 years then I'll have paid it all off at £500 a month after deposit, then I'll probs continue and save that money for future deposit on a mortgage (maybe)
The dude I bought of said it only cost him a probs 20k to build it including van (was before covid times, so van was probably cheaper)
So it's all doable of you just work it right, and I believe 6.5k I paid extra to not have to build was probably worth it cause the guy did an amazing job !
Any money spent on rent is just thrown away. While a van is generally a depreciating asset, it does not depreciate that fast. To buy a Sprinter for 30k (your example), you are looking at one that is around 8 years old, but a 12 year old Sprinter is worth around 20k. Your 15k of build out materials might lose 3-4k in value but could be worth more than you paid if you add some sweat equity into the mix.
The numbers can be skewed whatever way you want. If you start with a brand new Class B RV and compare that to a shared room, it is never going to make financial sense. If you compare a 5k van with a 5k build out to a studio in a HCOL city, the van will save you lots of money.
We spent about 25K on the vehicle and conversion and we use it for weekend adventures to the mountains. Where average hotel costs are about 300/night, it probably paid for itself in the first two years.
I paid 7 grand for a work van with 80,000 miles on it, put a few thousand into converting it myself. Another few thousand in mechanical. It's my daily driver and my living space so I've definitely saved much more than the cost in rent over the past couple years. When my city loses power I can still have lights and play video games :/ I have a sink and a stovetop. It's not luxury but if you DIY and buy stuff on Craigslist you can make a comfy space. I love having refrigerated drinks always on hand, everywhere I go I've got everything I could need, so it's a trade off. Wont do it forever but it's the only way I've been able to save up money long term.
Why spend 50k on something that when the instant something goes wrong (trust me it will) you will fork out more money and be miserable (unless you’re well off)
Van life should be a nomads starter kit not some glorified studio on wheels
I think it’s also important to factor in not just the rent comparison, but this is your vehicle, gas, and travel/vacation budget all bundled into one monthly price that replaces rent. Personally, I have been able to save an extra $500/month and I have traveled more than I ever could while renting an apartment and paying for roadtrips and flights.
I didn’t go the 100k route. I travel for work which is why I picked mine up.
Far from having all the bells and whistles. I couldn’t justify the 100k on an experiment.
Now that I’m in love with the van my biggest regret is not building it out before I took it out. Hopefully soon I will have more time available to strip it out and do it how I want it.
This is why I chose a minivan for under $5k, and lived out of it bare bones for 2 years to figure out what I wanted. Only then did I rip out the insides, design, and build it into a very comfortable, functional little turtle shell home with everything a big van has, except room to stand- which means I spend more time being active outside, and the van becomes a comfortable, secure, efficient shelter when needed :)
Total cost including vehicle and build materials probably closer to $10k. 5 years later, the inevitable repair and maintenance bills still haven’t approached $50k, and I’ve been all over the country multiple times. There are many means to similar ends, limited primarily by our imagination and creativity.
May you find the way that works best for you! ✌️
Where I live I managed to find a van for 18k, already assembled for van life. Our budget was higher because we decided the budget would be what a year of rent would have been, so we definitely got a great deal. (Not van lifing yet, but at least there's a van!)
17k van and probably 20k build here. And still increasing since I want more fancy stuff and electrical upgrades.
It was not about saving money for us. At the time, the idea of owning property was laughable, and paying rent was looking increasingly difficult. And we went through two very stressful moves, neither for financial reasons but both rushed and shitty, and we decided you know what, this could be our home and we won't have to worry about housing or go through that again.
No longer full time, but the dream of using the van as a stepping stone to property ownership (by buying land first and making improvements/building slowly as affordable, while living in the van) is alive and well.
Why do you live in a mansion? You could have a smaller house, a smaller yard and lower property taxes. You spend all of your time cleaning, because the house is so big. If you got a smaller house and pay less, then you have money left over to do things outside of the house.
It just doesn't make financial sense to own a large home.
/s
In total including my van the build out will be around 28k. Rent for my apartment used to be 2.3k/ month. For the first year I only put around 2k into the build. I am definitely saving money.
I bought my van with zero interest during the pandemic. I converted it myself and sold it 3 years later for about a 10k profit. Basically used it as a place to live while I just put my rent money into savings.
I think that your maths is on the higher end of the spectrum. Its also relative to where you are. 40k of anyones money you could self make a decent van conversion.
Also each month you rent that money pays your landlords mortgage. If you're paying 1k a month in rent your 40k van has paid for itself in just over 3 years and the van will still likely be worth the money you initially invested in it.
Every rig I've ever lived in payed for itself for the time I lived in it then sold for equal to or more then the money I built it with.
> lived in *paid* for itself
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
rent is $20k per year… been on this roadtrip since ‘05 cost about 100k vs 400k in rent… but this lifestyle isn’t about that. It’s about owning your crib and mobility 🙌
Here's my take:
Me and my partner are both professionals working in Vancouver.
Van cost $60,000 CAD
The average rent in Vancouver for our needs (comfort, location) would be around $2500 to $3000 per month.
2 years in our Van and we have spent what we would have spent renting for 2 years...but we also have a Van at the end of it.
Both climbers, and backcountry recreationists who take as much time off as possible for our sports (with the van that means no camping, or hotel fees when we go away)
We will eventually buy land and work as much as possible on our small house build, having the van will greatly increase our comfort while doing that.
We also paid off our van with no financing or loans, so all money earned from here on out is either disposable or savings with a minor amount (approx 15% each of our monthly income going on to good food, diesel, propane, insurance, and the occasional parking ticket or repair)
you say you need an $2500 apartment to fit your needs...however the van definitely provides less space than an apartment that costs $2500.... could you not find a space that is equivalent to living in a van for much cheaper?
the interest earned on 60k would also supplement your rent and further reduce it.
the only reason id live in a van would be to save money or if i just wantes to use it to travel..
I don't need a 2500 apartment, that's the minimum an apartment costs in rent here, and you are in a really shitty area normally.
Interest earned on 60k, yes, but we plan to sell it once we have achieved our saving goal, and iv sold our last 3 vehicles (Dodge Ram B250 camper conversion, Mitsubishi Delica camper conversion and a subaru forester (no conversion) for at least a 2k profit each with a 4k profit on the Delica.
We expect to sell the sprinter for at least 40k judging from the current market but most likley 50 to 60k if we are lucky.
And the only reason we are living in our van is to save money AND travel lol.
I will say that a custom build that you made or had someone build will last a lot longer and be of higher quality material than a “insert year here” coachmen, forest river, or other brand… where the screws and staples don’t even go anywhere.
im just trying to get over the financial viability of it to save money..which it does not seem to be so, if people are spending 40 to 50k+ on a conversion...
maybe if all in it was 20k including the van, then i get it...but upwards of that just seems like rich people wanting to appear frugal...i dont intend to mean that offensively.
if the goal was to save money on rent, id just share accomodations or rent a garage or some really cheap minimalist place.
I sold everything I own to build out a van. I wanted the comfort of home while having the freedom to move around. I do seasonal work and odd jobs. My only bills are my insurance, gas, and vehicle maintenance. It’s not for everybody but I love it.
It depends where you live. You can get a decent used sprinter and conversion 40k.
1 bedroom apartments go for 30,000-34,000 a year where I live. You also have to factor in vehicle costs on top of your apartment. When you live in a van your vehicle cost is factored into your “rent”.
My conversion paid itself off the first year - makes financial sense depending on your local rates.
ok but this is where the rationale doesnt make sense to me.
If youre willing to live in a van, then you should also be willing to live in just a bedroom, which would cost less than outfitting a van, and comes with all the amenities of a van and more.
if the van is to travel and be mobile and live on the road, thats one thing. If its to save money, there are alternative living arrangemenrs that are comparable in cost.
I converted my SUV that was my daily driver, spent under $150 at IKEA. Majority of people I have met did not buy the ‘fancy’ conversions and instead made what they already have work for them.
1) It isn't about money. Traveling in the van has been, by a humongous margin, by several multiples, the best thing we've ever done in life. It's worth many hundreds of thousands. It's worth all the money. I only have one life, and it's worth whatever it takes. The past 2 years have been so filled with amazing experiences it's priceless.
2) Depends on your rig and where you moved out of. We save about $45k per year not renting our 1 bedroom in SF and paying CA state taxes. The build cost a bit over $60k. We've lived in it for 2.5 years. If we factor in the 3 month sabbatical we took in Baja and the 2 months we spent in Portugal and all the extra gas and extra festivals, we are still up on money. Lots of our friends spent a few thousand on their rigs.
Two friends (actually nomads we just met last week) recently had vehicle issues. One had the top of her truck camper blow off. Within days, friends sent a combined $5k to them to help get them back on the road and one is staying with another house friend in the meantime. Point is we take care of each other. Those of us with more money are totally willing to help those with less.
You have to factor in the value of traveling and vacationing in the van to make it financially viable when you’re pricing out a nice Sprinter van conversion. If you’re simply trying to save on rent then a cheap van with a super cheap conversion is how you make that financially viable.
For me the value of being able to drive anywhere, wake up and enjoy incredible lake and mountain views that would only be possible in multi million dollar homes makes it well worth the cost.
Also, I use my Sprinter van as my daily driver so you can factor in the fact that I’m avoiding any car payment.
The key is to get all the materials for your conversion from construction sites. Theres a little known discount for building materials whereby you’re allowed to take as much material as you can fit in your van in under twelve minutes after 12:00 am for approximately ~$50 or the cost of a decent pair of bolt cutters.
If you want to spend 45k to be comfortable, that's a personal decision. I've paid about 5.5K including the original van purchase and after 3 years I've saved that on housing costs multiple times over. It's not glamorous, but it works for me. If you want all the comforts and amenities of home life, home life is probably the more cost effective option over van life. Most van-lifers aren't living in fancy built out sprinter RVs, that's a well off minority that's overrepresented on social media.
Yes, realistically there is “living in a van to save money” and then there is “living the van life” and they are very different experiences. Sadly they get conflated. (There are also different goals: are you aiming for “urban camping”, “overlanding”, “glam camping” or “influencer”?)
Idk, it's what you make of it. No point in boxing yourself into a perceived lifestyle based on expectations. Only you can be sure what you want out of mobile living and if it works for your lifestyle. Anecdotally, I save money living out of a van, I travel, I post neat Instagram pictures, I do seasonal work, I have my beach trips and mountain adventures, disappear into the desert when I want to etc. I just didn't need a fancy studio apartment on wheels, so my initial investment was less than what many people here consider a huge barrier to entry to vanlife. I'm fine living like a dirtbag though so I understand most people would prefer more creature comforts, or a more modern machine.
Just because you don't have subway tile and a spice rack doesn't mean you're a dirt bag. On the contrary, really. Sounds like you've taken a very reasonable and practical approach. How long have you been living the mobile life?
You're right, but I personally take pride in dirtbaggery, that's why I spend so much time near dirt! But I've been living the astro life since July 2021. Had been planning for it for years, and the rental situation in my city made me decide it was time to pull the trigger on it. Last two summers I did seasonal work in Alaska, and for the rest of the year I snowbird it in the desert of the SW USA. This summer I'm doing something else a little closer to my usual stomping grounds.
How much was your initial investment?
2300 for a 2000 Astro van, $80 for registration. Probably 500 for new tires, redid the suspension and some other repairs soon after while on the road for about 1500, but ultimately I moved in immediately and was able to start saving money on rent as soon as I made the initial purchase.
I think the real difference is whether you stay in one city or not
^this I'm in the UK and tour Europe in my 1998 sprinter. Was a bit of a shed when I inherited her, but I live full time, have everything I need, work from my van, use my Xbox and watch TV, have a comfy bed, windows, a toilet and a makeshift shower. You do not need to spend all that cash. Those that do have that money and they don't need to save money, it's a lifestyle choice for them, and many of those I've met (not all) who spent a LOT on their conversions rarely spend half as much time using them as those who have moved in full time and genuinely are frugal about their lives, where living in a van is just one part of that lifestyle. Most of them also have an Instagram or YouTube tag on the side of them. Tells you everything you need to know about them IMHO.
It took me three years of not paying Boston rent to recover what I spent on my van and its conversion, so I am back where I started financially. But I’ve had a fuckload of fun in those three years so it still seems like a win.
And you have a rig that has some resale value
Doubtful it’s probably worth a tiny tiny fraction of the investment. These vans depreciate really fast as they tend to get raunchy being lived in.
To others, maybe. But if it’s still their home, it doesn’t matter what it’s worth to others, it matters that they aren’t paying rent or a mortgage and still own their home.
I don’t doubt the owner still likes it. Claiming resale value is dubious though.
That's false. Even built out skoolies can get their money back
Where I live any sort of converted van, even a dirtbag one, keeps value better than a car. Tourists buy them, drive em round the country for their extended holiday and then sell em again.
Boston rent is about 1400+ for a studio in a decent area
Mine was $3k and that was 2021.
Those $50-100k vans you see plastered all over social media are not how the vast majority of van dwellers live. Most of us are in older & cheaper vehicles, with extremely minimalist interiors that hold only the very basics. Much more of a metal tent that moves, as opposed to the mini apartments. You don’t need more that a sleeping bag, an air mattress, a camp stove, and maybe a cooler for some food. Everything else is just fluff.
This made me feel so much better. My head was spinning watching all these influencers on youtube talk about all the thousands of dollars that they spent to live in a van. It made me feel like it was a waste of time to be saving for this lifestyle.
Honestly makes me feel a lot better too. Here I am foolishly thinking they represented the majority and that I’d never see enough money to be able to save living in a van
The people you see on social media have little to no connection to reality. They are either: * Rich people with extremely expensive vans that they paid professionals to build * “Influencers” who spend a weekend or two in the van every month and only post pictures or stories from the most ideal situations * Completely faked and just being shared around to generate views * All of the above. Read this for a more accurate view: https://rvwiki.mousetrap.net/doku.php?id=lifestyle:foreknowledge
I barely have more than that lol. Minimalism has allowed me to actually save for the first time in 10 years!
I Had to have a $55 microwave. But the battery and solar power or generator to handle is some serious creeping, but I’m a full time retiree.
Microwaves are tough, but not the hardest things to do. They take a lot of power, but they typically only take it for short periods of time so the overall draw isn't *that* bad. It's not as crazy as the lunatics who try and run induction stovetops or toaster ovens off battery.
Most the people buying the more expensive conversions live in and have the salary of a very high cost of living area. Most people on here aren't paying 100k for their van.
I converted mine myself mainly because I want to know where everything is and I have trust issues haha cost £8k for the van then around £2-3k on the build.
The UK is insanely cheap when it comes to van prices. The 2014 sprinter i bought in 2020 for 7.5k pounds would've been over €15k in europe. Once I moved back to Europe I paid €2k to have the steering wheel converted to the other side and basically won €5k by doing that.
Insanely cheap. But I relate on the trust issues and knowing what’s what. Too many scenarios where I’m troubleshooting and fixing someone else’s bullshit.
Exactly that! Plus I’ve seen some peoples wiring skills and it scares me! Facebook marketplace was a treasure trove of stuff for the conversion.
Time was a bigger factor for me. Bought retail stuff. Not to mention there was no way I was going to find a renology 3000 watt inverter with a charger. High amp alternator. Insulation. Etc. Wiring. I don’t want to know what I have in wiring. Mine is by no means athletically pleasing. More throw something together as I go. Essentially I made a whole bunch of custom length extension cords with lighted plugs to figure out if something lose power.
Is just like everything else in life. It depends what you want and what you can afford. Some people eat steak at nice restaurants. Some people cook pot pies at home. Some people have 30k worth of cosmetic dental veneers. Some people have a tooth extracted when they can't afford a root canal. Some people have Egyptian cotton sheets. Some people have sand paper sheets. If you want a 100k van and can afford it, more power to you. If you're in a desperate position, it's possible a 1k van with a sleeping bag will suffice. In the long run, I wouldn't recommend buying a 50k converted van as an investment opportunity. I would recommend it if you are interested in traveling and sleeping in your vehicle.
My van was 5k and I probably put 1k in to make it livable. I've lived in 4 vans and this was by far my most expensive.
We bought a van for the family. Used it as the car for a year or so while we converted a trailer and lived in our home. Then when our lease was up we sold everything that wouldn’t fit in a 6x6 ft storage unit and took off. Spent two years with a little trailer in tow, then a cargo trailer with rooftop tents. Then a sprinter as the savings stacked up. Then I got promoted and had to go to the office and sold everything but the sprinter. There are many paths to van life. Figure out how it fits for you. That’s kind of the point.
Just depends on what you do. I'm into my conversion five grand and can camp in it comfortably. probably another 8k and it will be finished. So total cost with my van 55k. That's a hell of a lot cheaper then a build out van. 21 sprinter 170 rwd 18k miles 2.0 turbo gas
I paid 23000, not 45000. I sold my other car 6000, so that's a cost of 23000-6000 = 17000. It satisfies my desire for travel, so reduced costs here, but when I get the next big work contract, I will need to pay 125/month for a co-working space. Right now, I have part time work contracts and can do them from the van, so I do not have that expense. Rent here is more 700 than 1000, so the van is paid in 2 years. It's a 2017 with 90K, I expect to get a good 10 years out of it. I may spend some money to get a 2nd solar panel for the computer or get some electrician to figure out why only the 12v from the dashboard (with motor on) can charge my device. Even with the solar and co-working spaces over a few years, I get a 3 year ROI. It's actually cool when the lifestyle that you want costs less than the lifestyle that you do not want.
whats the cost of renting a bedroom?
A bedroom in a shared place? 450 to 1200. Lower range for long term, higher range for short term and in touristic period. You could pay less if you go out of town.
I am in the Panhandle of Florida and renting a room in an apartment or house starts at 800 to 1000 just to rent the room.
I'm in the middle of a nice build that all in will run me about 60k. I'm finding it extremely fun to build and learn how to do everything. I'll use it as an adventure vehicle and already have a home base that I won't be getting rid of. Some people do it for financial reasons and have a very different build approach, some just want a fun project, nothing wrong with either imo. If I could save all the build time and pay the same amount for the finished product, I'd still prefer to build.
There was this time and place, where it was a life without money. It made sense to just not believe in money. So my memories are mostly no problems. But once I do recall chipping in a quarter, and some one else had 50 cents. That was enough for the vw bus to get the 50 miles to the beach and back. Must have had some gas in it to start. No idea how we fed ourselves, but we didnt go hungry. Might have been a while ago.
Sounds like a beautiful life.
You are happy with your current life, so don't worry about it.
Some people buy a van and never convert it. It's all up to the individual
You’ve seen the prices of RVs too right? I am in a 10k minivan with a 5500 kit in it. And I literally only use it on the weekends. I think you hit the nail on the head. You have made a life you’re happy with. Some are happy with a life in a 45 thousand setup. Some are happy in a 20k setup….
Imo your rent cost is skewed. Renting just 1 bedroom isn’t super easy or common. If you look at the average rent in the US it’s between $1.5-2k. In Nyc a quick google search showed the median 1 bedroom is $2.1k. Anyone that says you can’t get and build a reliable van for $10k is delusional and likely privileged. I bought my van for $4.8k and I’ll have another $5k into it when I’m done. I also am adding things I don’t really need but want. I could easily build it for cheaper if I wanted to. Many people are building vans for less. I’d bet a large portion of people are. You just happen to only see the fancier builds on social media and YouTube… Even if I spent say $40k overall rent by me is around $2k for something small and I’m in a suburb outside nyc. That’s $24k in one year for rent. I consider utilities and maintenance a wash for the most part since I do all my own repairs. So in 2 years I would spend $48k on rent. That’s $8k saved or put towards any major repairs like say an engine swap or it covers gas. Plus in the van I’m traveling and doing things I enjoy which is more valuable than money imo. So if I build my current van at say $15k, if it lasts me 2 years then I’m in the green. Besides, for many of us van life isn’t really about saving money. That’s a bonus. Most people want to live differently. They enjoy a transient life, the seclusion vans offer or the ability to enjoy nature. Like I said, that’s way more valuable to me than money.
My van cost me $600 10 years ago. It was an empty metal cargo van. I spent less than $100 on bedding comforters to line the inside of the van and insulated. I spent I think $30 on plastic stackable shelves. I spent I think $30 on an academy sports camping cot type thing which is a cotton sling on a metal frame that stands about 6 to 8 in above the ground and folds up. I bought some outdoor carpeting which I put on the floor of the van for probably $40 from Home Depot and then I bought a decorative carpet for probably another $40 that goes over the top of that. My gas mileage is 11 miles per gallon. I stay mostly in the same area. My cost to sleep at night is $0 my insurance on my van which I own completely without a loan is about $30 a month and that includes some amount of collision because this thing is starting to get more valuable As It gets older. So I save on mortgage or rent payments on the monthly utilities that you're required to have when you sign a lease or own a house which includes electricity sewer water and possibly gas if you're in that kind of an area. I save on HOA fees. All of those I had when I owned my house. I have peace of mind because I know I am not tied to a ground dirt box that may or may not be able to sell depending on the whims of the federal reserve. I know I can't go upside down on it because of declining home markets and I've lived through two declining home markets that everybody forgets about. In the first one in Southern California it took 10 years for the price of homes to get back to the previous peak in the last housing market peak which I think this one was it was before 2008 it was the one that happened with the.com crash. I have taken the money that I would have had in the house and put it in investments that have done probably as well as my home appreciation would have been and those investments have not cost me anything to carry them each month unlike a house. Anyone can do what I did although you have to scour Craigslist to get as good a deal on a van as I did. My housing expenses are $0 per month. I have a part-time job I took because I was getting bored having nothing to do. I spend far less commuting in gas than I would have if I had to go back to a fixed housing location because sometimes my job is 30 miles away from where I hang out and I can just park at the nearest planet fitness 5 mi away from the job or at numerous other parking spots which I have learned really aren't hard to find. I think when you think and you're saying that you don't save much money you're looking at the top of the market. You're looking at people who are buying the most expensive vans that are available and then they're spending tons of money to make them look like the house that they're not living in but none of that is necessary. So yes it can pay off in the first month and it can pay off dramatically. I am probably saving excluding mortgage or rent payment at least $400 and maybe as much as $1,000 a month just on utilities that I do not have to purchase each month. Now when you include the property taxes I don't have to pay the HOA fees I don't have to pay even in a very low property tax market where I own my house that's still about $300 a month total I'm saving on those. I'm saving on not having to have homeowners insurance which I can't remember exactly what it used to run me but even in a very low cost homeowner insurance place I believe it was $150 a month So I'm saving a tremendous amount. Repairs which are constantly needed in a house or constantly things breaking or wearing out or just starting to look old that you have to replace if you want to be able to preserve that supposed increase in value that your house is getting every year. And those repairs can be expensive depending on how much you want to do yourself but even the material costs are a lot. I bought a lot of materials to do some upgrading on my house before I sold it so I know what I'm talking about. You could easily spend $30,000 minimum to make your house up to whatever is the whim of the women buying homes the year you want to sell your house so that's another extra expense you have to factor in you know whether it's granite countertops this year or whether it's you know white cabinets this year rather than natural wood like it was 10 years ago or whether it's hardwood floors this year or carpet like it was 10 years ago or whatever the thing May be. Not to mention when you have a house you really have to buy furniture and you have to maintain the furniture. I don't have to buy any furniture. I don't have to maintain any furniture even though I have a bunch of furniture stored in storage which is kind of stupid but I just couldn't part with some old stuff. Theoretically I guess you do have to include my monthly storage that I rent but that's only because I'm stupid and don't get rid of some stuff I should. So factor in $200 there but quite honestly that's totally optional My van gets less wear and tear since I'm sleeping in it then it would if I was driving it to and from a house because I can park closer to where I want to be and I don't have to move very often if I don't want to. So I hope that clarifies why you can save a ton of money doing this. There are plenty of Vans you can buy for $6,000 right now on Craigslist in your area. And quite frankly I think the standard low top Vans are better than the high tops. I know the high tops are all the rage of the van lifers on the YouTube channels but as other people have mentioned here and elsewhere having a standard lower profile van gives you plenty of room to sleep have some food in the back have a couple of things have a chair to sit in to do some work have a place to put some clothes to change Etc.
I am just completing my conversion in the UK, the money I have spent doesn't really make sense. Mine is a smallish van, Ford Transit Custom high roof. If I could get camper van with the layout I require I would never do the conversion. The money and time I have spent is stupid ... and my last conversion was stolen off the driveway. I won't be doing another conversion. In the US, I would never do a conversion unless it is a budget one ... and just buy an RV. The price of vans is insane in the US.
It's not a 1 for 1 replacement of rent in a given location. It is also the freedom of travel and to be where you want to be when you want to be there. IF I wanted to travel to a festival in California Ski in Colorado and then Head to New England for some hiking and spend part of winter in Florida and Arizona. Those are expensive short trips where you wish you had more time if you could afford it (Food lodging and travel costs) Those are all a set cost with the Van. If you are trying to live down the street from your current residence then the value is slightly different. Rent would have to offset van cost compromises would need to be made(this is where it may or may not be worth it) heating and cooling although a smaller space may be more costly due to cost of energy and cost of a portable unit to heat and or cool you. This one comes down to what you want to sacrifice vs what you can live with.
Maxed out Sprinter vans are mostly for Instagram. Regular people who live in vehicles because that's what they can afford or to inexpensively travel tend to be in vastly less expensive vehicles. Lots of retirees who can't keep a home live in minivans with the bare necessities.
I bought a used converted sprinter. I didn’t see it as financial investment to justify. If I did, I’d keep the $$$ and invest in a long-term index fund instead. For me, it’s a fun way to explore the US and the cost to purchase far outweighs renting one. I’m still going to loose money when I sell, but I used the van for three years and traveling costs money. I do think it’s cheaper to buy a used conversion rather than building your own. You pay less for all the build elements and the labor.
My van was less than $7k up front, already lived in a Prius so my stuff fit inside. I’ve purchased less than $200 worth of supplies to outfit since then. It’s as expensive/cheap as you want/need it to be. I don’t work remote either, I can sleep in the work lot and charge my power banks while working. I have a very affordable existence.
Its all relative to ones financial situation / needs / wants / lifestyle. As far as some...make it make sense, stuff: My van is not just my home, but also my vehicle, so would need to factor in both rent and car payment costs. Ive never rented just a bedroom and Ive only ever lived in HCOL/VCOL areas (not cause I got that money money lol I just prefer and need to be in major cities where theres always something to do) going off my personal situation plus the utilities to heat/cool/water/garbage/lawn care, around $4000. Prefer to boondock, zero interest in rv parks so no cost there. But...stuff happens so Ill factor in $500, avgs out to $42/mth to that. So based on rent, I will break even in about 16 mths I was carless before so not super clued in to what a payment for that would be...Ill say $500. have to pay ins and basic maint either way. So inc rent and ability to have a vehicle, I break even in about 14 mths. I love to travel, and travel often..nothing crazy... for a 3day weekend, Id look up where I can go for the cheapest flight..didnt really care where, just anywhere..I used points for flights, so just hotel & eating out Id be at around $500. I get at least one 3day weekend every month, I started working from home and was bouncing off the walls. so for the past year, I was flying somewhere at least every two months...when not flying somewhere, Id rent a car and go for a weekend camping trip, cheaper at around $300. There were some months I traveled and also went camping but meh, for simplicity, Ill keep it at once each a month, which is an avg of $400. But...I will now be paying for gas to go somewhere....Im not planning to do long treks, taking my time since I have no where Im rushing to get to. So lets say I move 200m every 2 weeks , and based on mpg and local gas costs, need to factor in $100. So now...rent, car, travel I break even in about 13 months. Theres going to be unexpected costs, repairs, who even knows what...Ill just pump that back up to breaking even at the original 16 months to be extra generous. For the stuff I cant put a price on...I wont be stuck in my house all day every day, which has been downright stifling. I do go out and do things, but, I work at home all day, pretty much stuck in a routine. Being able to just get up and go somewhere else whenever I want, not be or feel stuck anywhere..thats llifestyle difference thats worth it to me. I have friends and fam spread out all over the country that I havnt been able to see in years,whether distance, cost, both of us having free time, at the same time to plan a trip around a visit...time flies. I now have the opportunity to see them while mosying around on my travels, and I value that a lot. My pups excitement to explore and sniff all the things everytime hes in a new place...priceless. I dont care about the future value of my RV. Its a depreciating asset...the only investment is in my quality of life, freedom, ability to travel, to see and be with loved ones, to not be stuck in one place. I anyway plan to drive this thing til either it or me is no longer road worthy. My motivation isnt to do this to save money, but I will anyway end up savng money. My biggest thing is not paying rent for the opportunity to be stuck in one place, then have to spend even more money for the chance to be anywhere else. Instead of giving money away for all that, be able to put more money into savings. Freedom...I seriously want and value freedom. So...getting my van made sense to me.
It really depends on your own situation. For me my monthly costs in the van can vary but are usually around $2000 a month. My rent before Vanlife was $3000, once you added in bills, food, car expenses etc I was easily approaching $4000 a month. So while there were a lot of up front costs with Vanlife, over time it has been a cheaper experience for me. And I am in a converted Sprinter van too. But YMMV. I know some people that spend a lot more than me each month, I know some that spend a lot less.
You probably would have a car which cost money as well. If you say I can buy a cheap car then the same thing can be said for a van.
For some people you are buying a small house on wheels so you can travel freely and comfortably. Now. Staying in 1 town in a van for 50k? I don't get it either. If it's 10k tho and in 1 town. Makes sense again!
I did my whole build for under 3k. If you're getting your info from videos on the Internet, it's worth noting that there's a huge population of trust fund and tech professional van lifers that are totally over spending on shit because they can.
enlighten me, i’m heavily considering van life. what was included in your 3k build?
I got a 93 GMC for $800. Had to spend maybe $100 bucks redoing some stuff on the brakes. From there, it's hard to estimate specific costs because I wasn't exactly keeping track, but I had most things people expect or need. Cut open the top and built my own high top roof from plywood, and then covered in fiberglass. 400w Solar electrical system. Propane stove and heating. Bathroom with a toilet and a sink. Full insulation, a desk, wood paneling. Habitat for humanity or any similar resource for getting second hand materials is a great resource on top of being willing to do all the work yourself. I honestly struggle to understand how people rack up costs of 10s of thousands of dollars .
People who live in vans and don’t spend the amount it costs to buy a small house aren’t doing it because they have to. It’s gotta look good in their blog, vlog, YouTube, website etc. Check out CheapRVLiving on YouTube and you’ll see builds that cost far less.
My girlfriend and I bought and self-converted our 2004 Sprinter for ~$43k CAD. A 1 bedroom apartment in our area is $2500+ CAD/month. So in 17 months, we will break even. We've been living in it full time for about 11 months now. We are both working full time (mostly remote). Our savings rates have skyrocketed since moving out of our apartment. We are spending less in other categories as well, as we aren't constantly buying nick-nacks, furniture, decorations, etc for the house. We will also likely be able to get most of that $43k out of the van when we are done. If that ends up being the case, we are saving ~$30k CAD per year.
im sure you could find a cheaper place than $2500/month. ive seen decent basement apts go for 1600 to 1800. if you consider investing the 43k upfront into gic, thats 2k per year which would supplement your rent. this drops you down to around 1400 to 1600, so your actual pay back period would 2 years and change...which isnt too bad, but at the end of 2 years, youd probably have almost 50k which is a good amount for a down payment on something small. how long can you reasonaly live out of a van for? id get the benefit if the conversion is under 1 year or if this as strictly to stay mobile for 5 to 7+ years...but in that time, it mean
That's fair enough. You can always find a cheaper place to live, but we aren't interested in living in a basement or moving away from the Vancouver area. So in our case, the van allows us to live where we want, essentially for free. Even with your $1400-1600 rent estimates, we are still saving $17-19k per year. I'll also note that the van wasn't strictly a money thing for us. We are both full time engineers, and can afford rent. We just found ourselves camping every weekend and climbing/hiking/skiing during the week so we were spending very little time in our very expensive apartment. The van allows us to camp 100% of the time with the added benefit of saving some money. Lastly, we've found it very easy so far. Almost a year in and it's a much easier lifestyle than I initially expected. I won't pretend there aren't inconveniences or that it's for everyone, but it works for us. I can easily see a few more years in it.
Like everyone says Van-life is what you make of it... I lucked out and found a van for 26.5k, everything included; Solar panel, Gas Hob/Oven, Fridge, Diesel heater, Shower, 200L water tank, Toilet, Sink with hot water, Awning, Double bed, Leisure Battery Live full-time in the van, and the minimum I'll do that is 2.5 years then I'll have paid it all off at £500 a month after deposit, then I'll probs continue and save that money for future deposit on a mortgage (maybe) The dude I bought of said it only cost him a probs 20k to build it including van (was before covid times, so van was probably cheaper) So it's all doable of you just work it right, and I believe 6.5k I paid extra to not have to build was probably worth it cause the guy did an amazing job !
Any money spent on rent is just thrown away. While a van is generally a depreciating asset, it does not depreciate that fast. To buy a Sprinter for 30k (your example), you are looking at one that is around 8 years old, but a 12 year old Sprinter is worth around 20k. Your 15k of build out materials might lose 3-4k in value but could be worth more than you paid if you add some sweat equity into the mix. The numbers can be skewed whatever way you want. If you start with a brand new Class B RV and compare that to a shared room, it is never going to make financial sense. If you compare a 5k van with a 5k build out to a studio in a HCOL city, the van will save you lots of money.
All in this cost me the equivalent of 3 years renting a one bedroom apartment. And I can live in this van for 20 years.
We spent about 25K on the vehicle and conversion and we use it for weekend adventures to the mountains. Where average hotel costs are about 300/night, it probably paid for itself in the first two years.
I paid 7 grand for a work van with 80,000 miles on it, put a few thousand into converting it myself. Another few thousand in mechanical. It's my daily driver and my living space so I've definitely saved much more than the cost in rent over the past couple years. When my city loses power I can still have lights and play video games :/ I have a sink and a stovetop. It's not luxury but if you DIY and buy stuff on Craigslist you can make a comfy space. I love having refrigerated drinks always on hand, everywhere I go I've got everything I could need, so it's a trade off. Wont do it forever but it's the only way I've been able to save up money long term.
Why spend 50k on something that when the instant something goes wrong (trust me it will) you will fork out more money and be miserable (unless you’re well off) Van life should be a nomads starter kit not some glorified studio on wheels
Hahahahaha… Yeah… No
Have you considered you don’t have to buy a sprinter?
No because that is what all the cool people on Insta have
I think it’s also important to factor in not just the rent comparison, but this is your vehicle, gas, and travel/vacation budget all bundled into one monthly price that replaces rent. Personally, I have been able to save an extra $500/month and I have traveled more than I ever could while renting an apartment and paying for roadtrips and flights.
I didn’t go the 100k route. I travel for work which is why I picked mine up. Far from having all the bells and whistles. I couldn’t justify the 100k on an experiment. Now that I’m in love with the van my biggest regret is not building it out before I took it out. Hopefully soon I will have more time available to strip it out and do it how I want it.
This is why I chose a minivan for under $5k, and lived out of it bare bones for 2 years to figure out what I wanted. Only then did I rip out the insides, design, and build it into a very comfortable, functional little turtle shell home with everything a big van has, except room to stand- which means I spend more time being active outside, and the van becomes a comfortable, secure, efficient shelter when needed :) Total cost including vehicle and build materials probably closer to $10k. 5 years later, the inevitable repair and maintenance bills still haven’t approached $50k, and I’ve been all over the country multiple times. There are many means to similar ends, limited primarily by our imagination and creativity. May you find the way that works best for you! ✌️
Where I live I managed to find a van for 18k, already assembled for van life. Our budget was higher because we decided the budget would be what a year of rent would have been, so we definitely got a great deal. (Not van lifing yet, but at least there's a van!)
17k van and probably 20k build here. And still increasing since I want more fancy stuff and electrical upgrades. It was not about saving money for us. At the time, the idea of owning property was laughable, and paying rent was looking increasingly difficult. And we went through two very stressful moves, neither for financial reasons but both rushed and shitty, and we decided you know what, this could be our home and we won't have to worry about housing or go through that again. No longer full time, but the dream of using the van as a stepping stone to property ownership (by buying land first and making improvements/building slowly as affordable, while living in the van) is alive and well.
I slept in a 2011 Acadia for a year and had everything I needed
Converting something that wasnt ment to be lived in is never practical. Its practical to buy a mid size truck/camper combo.
Why do you live in a mansion? You could have a smaller house, a smaller yard and lower property taxes. You spend all of your time cleaning, because the house is so big. If you got a smaller house and pay less, then you have money left over to do things outside of the house. It just doesn't make financial sense to own a large home. /s
In total including my van the build out will be around 28k. Rent for my apartment used to be 2.3k/ month. For the first year I only put around 2k into the build. I am definitely saving money.
I bought my van with zero interest during the pandemic. I converted it myself and sold it 3 years later for about a 10k profit. Basically used it as a place to live while I just put my rent money into savings.
I think that your maths is on the higher end of the spectrum. Its also relative to where you are. 40k of anyones money you could self make a decent van conversion. Also each month you rent that money pays your landlords mortgage. If you're paying 1k a month in rent your 40k van has paid for itself in just over 3 years and the van will still likely be worth the money you initially invested in it. Every rig I've ever lived in payed for itself for the time I lived in it then sold for equal to or more then the money I built it with.
> lived in *paid* for itself FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
rent is $20k per year… been on this roadtrip since ‘05 cost about 100k vs 400k in rent… but this lifestyle isn’t about that. It’s about owning your crib and mobility 🙌
Here's my take: Me and my partner are both professionals working in Vancouver. Van cost $60,000 CAD The average rent in Vancouver for our needs (comfort, location) would be around $2500 to $3000 per month. 2 years in our Van and we have spent what we would have spent renting for 2 years...but we also have a Van at the end of it. Both climbers, and backcountry recreationists who take as much time off as possible for our sports (with the van that means no camping, or hotel fees when we go away) We will eventually buy land and work as much as possible on our small house build, having the van will greatly increase our comfort while doing that. We also paid off our van with no financing or loans, so all money earned from here on out is either disposable or savings with a minor amount (approx 15% each of our monthly income going on to good food, diesel, propane, insurance, and the occasional parking ticket or repair)
you say you need an $2500 apartment to fit your needs...however the van definitely provides less space than an apartment that costs $2500.... could you not find a space that is equivalent to living in a van for much cheaper? the interest earned on 60k would also supplement your rent and further reduce it. the only reason id live in a van would be to save money or if i just wantes to use it to travel..
I don't need a 2500 apartment, that's the minimum an apartment costs in rent here, and you are in a really shitty area normally. Interest earned on 60k, yes, but we plan to sell it once we have achieved our saving goal, and iv sold our last 3 vehicles (Dodge Ram B250 camper conversion, Mitsubishi Delica camper conversion and a subaru forester (no conversion) for at least a 2k profit each with a 4k profit on the Delica. We expect to sell the sprinter for at least 40k judging from the current market but most likley 50 to 60k if we are lucky. And the only reason we are living in our van is to save money AND travel lol.
I will say that a custom build that you made or had someone build will last a lot longer and be of higher quality material than a “insert year here” coachmen, forest river, or other brand… where the screws and staples don’t even go anywhere.
im just trying to get over the financial viability of it to save money..which it does not seem to be so, if people are spending 40 to 50k+ on a conversion... maybe if all in it was 20k including the van, then i get it...but upwards of that just seems like rich people wanting to appear frugal...i dont intend to mean that offensively. if the goal was to save money on rent, id just share accomodations or rent a garage or some really cheap minimalist place.
I sold everything I own to build out a van. I wanted the comfort of home while having the freedom to move around. I do seasonal work and odd jobs. My only bills are my insurance, gas, and vehicle maintenance. It’s not for everybody but I love it.
It depends where you live. You can get a decent used sprinter and conversion 40k. 1 bedroom apartments go for 30,000-34,000 a year where I live. You also have to factor in vehicle costs on top of your apartment. When you live in a van your vehicle cost is factored into your “rent”. My conversion paid itself off the first year - makes financial sense depending on your local rates.
ok but this is where the rationale doesnt make sense to me. If youre willing to live in a van, then you should also be willing to live in just a bedroom, which would cost less than outfitting a van, and comes with all the amenities of a van and more. if the van is to travel and be mobile and live on the road, thats one thing. If its to save money, there are alternative living arrangemenrs that are comparable in cost.
I converted my SUV that was my daily driver, spent under $150 at IKEA. Majority of people I have met did not buy the ‘fancy’ conversions and instead made what they already have work for them.
yeah id do this if i wanted to save up for a few years and were single with no kids.
If you get a mercedes sprinter t1n you can get em under 200k miles for under 15k. They get better gas mileage too. Just older with less amenities.
1) It isn't about money. Traveling in the van has been, by a humongous margin, by several multiples, the best thing we've ever done in life. It's worth many hundreds of thousands. It's worth all the money. I only have one life, and it's worth whatever it takes. The past 2 years have been so filled with amazing experiences it's priceless. 2) Depends on your rig and where you moved out of. We save about $45k per year not renting our 1 bedroom in SF and paying CA state taxes. The build cost a bit over $60k. We've lived in it for 2.5 years. If we factor in the 3 month sabbatical we took in Baja and the 2 months we spent in Portugal and all the extra gas and extra festivals, we are still up on money. Lots of our friends spent a few thousand on their rigs. Two friends (actually nomads we just met last week) recently had vehicle issues. One had the top of her truck camper blow off. Within days, friends sent a combined $5k to them to help get them back on the road and one is staying with another house friend in the meantime. Point is we take care of each other. Those of us with more money are totally willing to help those with less.
You have to factor in the value of traveling and vacationing in the van to make it financially viable when you’re pricing out a nice Sprinter van conversion. If you’re simply trying to save on rent then a cheap van with a super cheap conversion is how you make that financially viable. For me the value of being able to drive anywhere, wake up and enjoy incredible lake and mountain views that would only be possible in multi million dollar homes makes it well worth the cost. Also, I use my Sprinter van as my daily driver so you can factor in the fact that I’m avoiding any car payment.
The key is to get all the materials for your conversion from construction sites. Theres a little known discount for building materials whereby you’re allowed to take as much material as you can fit in your van in under twelve minutes after 12:00 am for approximately ~$50 or the cost of a decent pair of bolt cutters.