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. We are a full-time working couple with no kids or pets. See some links below for other RVers actual spends!
This is what we actually spent in September 2023. I’ll go into detail on why each was what it was and any fluctuations we found.
| Category | Spent in September 2023 |
| RV and vehicle costs | $1379 |
| Repairs, maintenance & registration | $0 |
| Camping costs | $25 |
| Groceries | $551 |
| Phone and internet | $293 |
| Fuel & DEF | $619 |
| RV miles driven | 1,421.8 miles |
| Memberships & Tolls | $119 |
| Entertainment/fun/eating out | $325 |
| Travel | $177 |
| Vehicle insurance | $0 |
| Health insurance | $463 |
| Various normal expenses | $79 |
| Total spent | $4277 |
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 out the month at Dakota Meadows in Prior Lake, MN, then hopped over to Nordic Creamery, a Harvest Host in Westby, WI and spent a week at Arrowhead Campground, a Thousand Trails campground in Wisconsin Dells, WI. We then stopped by Heritage Orchard, another Harvest Host in Chilton, WI. After that, we were at Pictured Rocks RV Park in Christmas, Mi, with a few days at Mackinaw City / Mackinac Island KOA Journey in Mackinaw City, MI. We stayed a week at St. Clair Thousand Trails in St. Clair, MI and finished out the month at Thousand Trails Wilmington
What did we do:
September was the most travel we’ve done recently, moving a massive seven times. I do NOT recommend traveling that fast or moving that often, but several of the campgrounds in this area were paid campgrounds and not our normal Thousand Trails stays, so we moved a little faster. That said though, we did some of the coolest things we’ve done so far on the road. From going to Circus World in Baraboo, WI, to hiking at Devil’s Lake State Park to hiking at Pictured Rocks to taking a Shipwreck Tour on a glass bottom boat, to biking around Mackinac Island, to a dinner at Bière de Mac Brew Works and that was all just in the first half of the month! The last two weeks of the month were much more low-key and we’ve been catching up on work. It’s been nice after the rush of being on the road again.
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RV and vehicle costs
We spent $1379. 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.
Repairs, maintenance & registration
None this month. But the AC has been keeping us cool and the brakes are working great.
Camping costs
This was $25.00 for the month. We stayed in Thousand Trails campgrounds most of the month. This was for our annual assessment of our Thousand Trails membership.
Groceries
Our groceries were $551. This is a little closer to what we were paying when we were stationary in Florida. We’ve been using our stockpile from Sacks Grocery Outlet. We’ve also thankfully been close to Aldi and Walmart at all of our stays where we needed to get groceries. This does include shopping at Walmart, which sometimes includes purchasing things for the RV such as toilet paper.
Phone and internet/hotspots
We spent $293 on our phones and internet. We have an unlimited plan through Verizon for our phones which is $182.65. We have a 100 gig hotspot plan with T-Mobile which is $55 a month and a 100 gig hotspot plan with Cricket which is $55 a month.
Fuel & DEF
We paid $619 for fuel this month. We moved SEVEN times (even though we spent the night at two Harvest Hosts, I’m counting them in the other moves). Fuel was a little less than last month, but we had fueled up before we moved at the end of the previous month. We use Open Roads for discounted fuel.
Memberships & Tolls
We spent $144 on memberships and tolls. $25 for adding on to our Escapees mail scanning. $25 for our annual assessment with Thousand Trails. $8 to cross the Mackinac Bridge. And $47 to renew Escapees and $39 to renew RV Trip Wizard respectively.
Entertainment/fun/eating out
We spent $325 on fun this month. This was half of what we spent last month and that makes sense. I’ve done some adjusting to how I report our spending, and I realized that last month I said we spent $665 for this category, but it was really half of that because I counted Bret’s flights and rental car costs in there.
Travel
We spent $177 on travel this month. This was $82 for the ferry to Mackinac Island and $77.70 for our shipwreck tour. We were TOTALLY tourists in September!
Health insurance
My health insurance was $437 for the month. And Bret’s was $26.
Various normal expenses
The total spent on random other expenses was $79
I tend to toss everything that doesn’t fit into a category 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, see other budgets when you’re already full time, or show you that 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!
Other RVers expenses
There are so many ways to travel and so many family make ups, rig type and ways to live on the road, here are other RVers who share what they spent.
The Adventure Detour – family of three with pets in a fifth wheel. Lots of great info here too!
Open Roading – couple with pets in a fifth wheel. Kalyn’s spending posts are some of the cleanest and prettiest looking costs I’ve seen!
Wild RV Life – couple with pets in a fifth wheel. They do a LOT of boondocking as well.
The Traveling Tiongsons – couple with pets in a travel trailer toy hauler. These guys have done all of the lower 48!
Blogs
Living in Beauty – retired couple with pets in an Airstream. This is one THE best summary spending posts I’ve seen. They’ve been on the road since July 18, 2016 and have all of their stats on this link. Very helpful!
The Home That Roams – couple with pets in a travel trailer. They also share about boats as well!
Reset Your Journey – family of four in a travel trailer. Very detailed post!
Live Work Dream – couple with pets in a fifth wheel. Another one with detailed posts about budgeting and costs.
YouTube Channels
Our Road Less Traveled – Couple with pets in a fifth Wheel.
Class C Broads – Couple with FIVE dogs! in a Super C.
Happy Travels Life – Family of three with pets. – Travel trailer.
Sherise and Jess – Couple in a fifth wheel.
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