Full time RV costs can range so much, it can be hard to give an accurate number, but you can have a framework to start calculating your numbers.
This is what we actually spent in June 2022. I’ll go into detail on why each was what it was and any fluctuations we found.
Category | Spent in June 2022 |
RV and vehicle costs | $2,080 |
Camping costs | $170.51 |
Groceries | $728 |
Phone and internet | $225 |
Fuel & DEF | $680 |
RV miles driven | 696.2 miles |
Memberships & Tolls | $0 |
Entertainment/fun/eating out | $278 |
Health insurance | $415 |
Various normal expenses | $46 |
Total spent | $4,685.51 |
A few notes – I’m not including the costs of our businesses (because that can vary greatly and you may not be running a business out of your RV) or our rental (previously our home). These are just our full time RV costs for the month.
Where were we:
We started the month moving at Lake & Shore RV Resort in Ocean View, NJ. About halfway through the month, we moved to Lake George Schroon Valley in Warrensburg, NY. Then we hit two Harvest Hosts on the way to Moody Beach RV in Wells, ME.
What did we do:
June was a little more chill than May. It was my birthday and I got to celebrate with a hike down the road from our campground in Lake George and we had dinner in the town of Lake George. We spent a lot of time at the campgrounds in June.
RV and vehicle costs
We spent $2080. This includes the payment for our truck, which is $979.35 each month and our rig, which is $399.88 per month. We have a seven year loan on the truck and a twenty year loan on the RV. This also included our insurance costs of $701.00 for the truck.
Camping costs
This was $170.51 for the month. We stayed in Thousand Trails campgrounds the entire month. The $76 is our monthly cost for our annual dues. We also picked up a Harvest Host membership for $79.20. I also bought some online credits for RPI’s online booking, which was $16.00.
Groceries
Our groceries were $728, which was a bit higher than normal for us. We were pretty bare bones at the end of the month, so it was a big stock up. This does include shopping at Walmart, which sometimes includes purchasing things for the RV such as toilet paper.
Phone and internet/hotspots
We spent $225 on our phones and internet. We have an unlimited plan through Verizon for our phones which is $113.35. We have a 100 gig hotspot plan with T-Mobile which is $57 a month and a 100 gig hotspot plan with Cricket which is $55 a month.
Fuel & DEF
We paid $660 for fuel this month. We moved twice (I’m counting the Harvest Hosts stays as one move). At the end of the month, during my grocery stock up, I also found a “good” price on diesel at $5.60, so I filled up even though we wouldn’t need fuel for a while. We also topped off our DEF at a truck shop, which was $20.00.
Entertainment/fun/eating out
We spent $278 on fun this month. We didn’t get out much at all in June. We went to a few places on my birthday weekend, but that was about it.
Health insurance
My health insurance was $415 for the month.
Various normal expenses
Total spent was $109.
I tend to just toss everything that doesn’t fit into a category in here. So a trip to Target may be groceries, clothes, and fun, but it ends up here.
I want these posts to help guide you as you plan to hit the road full time, to see other budgets when you’re already full time or show you that maybe this isn’t the life for you. Did I answer all your questions? Do you have any more? Let me know in the comments below!