Every full-time RV YouTuber seems to spend $1,500 a month and live like kings. I call BS. Either they're leaving stuff out or they have income sources they're not mentioning.
Here are our actual numbers from last year. Every dollar tracked in a spreadsheet because I'm that person.
$6,840 ($570/month average). This includes a mix of boondocking, state parks, and a few private parks when we needed hookups. Boondocking is "free" but the diesel to get to remote spots adds up.
Fuel: $7,200 ($600/month). Our Class A gets 8 mpg. We moved about twice a month on average. This is the number that kills most budgets.
Food: $9,600 ($800/month for a family of 5). Eating out less than we did in our house but groceries in small-town America cost more than you'd think.
Insurance: $2,400 ($200/month for rig + tow vehicle + health).
Cell/Internet: $3,360 ($280/month — two cell plans plus Starlink).
Maintenance & repairs: $4,800 ($400/month average, but lumpy — one month was $2,000 for a fridge replacement, other months were $50).
Everything else: $6,000 ($500/month — laundry, activities, school supplies, random stuff).
Total: $40,200 or about $3,350/month.
Thats for a family of 5. A couple could trim that significantly. But the YouTube fantasy of $1,500? Only if you park for free, never move, and eat ramen.
We love this life. But being honest about costs helps people actually plan for it instead of running out of money six months in.
Comments (4)
Join the conversation!
Sign in to comment
Sound advice. This is the kind of content the community needs.
Well written and to the point. Appreciate real-world experience.
Been doing this for years and can confirm its legit advice.
The community aspect of RV parks has been such a surprise blessing for me.