There's a common idea that vanlife is expensive: fully kitted-out vans, gadgets everywhere, luxury campsites. But the reality is that travelling by camper can be one of the most affordable ways to see the world, if you approach it the right way. Freedom doesn't lie in spending a lot, but in needing very little. Here are some tricks for living the vanlife on a small budget.
Accommodation: your biggest saving
Sleeping is where you save the most. Prioritise free or cheap stopovers over campsites, which are far more expensive. Save the campsite for when you genuinely need its facilities. Combining stopovers with responsible overnighting, the cost of sleeping can be almost zero. We cover it in campsite, stopover or wild camping.
Cooking on board, almost always
Eating out is what blows the budget the most. Cooking in the camper with produce from local supermarkets and markets is cheap, healthy and part of the charm. We cover it in cooking in the camper and in easy recipes.
Gain autonomy and stop paying for hook-ups
The more power and water autonomy you have, the less you depend on paying for hook-ups and services. An installation with a solar panel and a good battery pays for itself trip by trip by letting you string together nights at free stopovers. It's the investment that saves the most in the long run; work out yours at how much battery you need.
Low season and unhurried routes
- Travel outside peak season: everything is cheaper and less crowded.
- Drive smoothly and directly: fuel is the biggest expense; driving slowly saves a lot.
- Make the most of what's free: nature, beaches, walking trails, markets.
Start simple
You don't need the most kitted-out van in the world to get started. A basic but well-built installation, essential equipment and a taste for adventure are enough. You can add to it later as you find out what you actually need. More in how to save money while travelling.
In short
Low-cost vanlife is built on sleeping at stopovers, cooking on board, gaining autonomy so you don't pay for services, and travelling in low season without rushing. The step to take today: on your next trip, try swapping most campsite nights for stopovers and cooking on board almost all the time; you'll see how much the spending drops without giving up anything important.
