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 April 2024. I’ll go into detail on why each was what it was and any fluctuations we found.
| Category | Spent in April 2024 |
| RV and vehicle costs | $1379.23 |
| Repairs, maintenance & registration | $225.62 |
| Camping costs | $283.04 |
| Groceries | $592.00 |
| Phone and internet | $290.87 |
| Fuel & DEF | $640.50 |
| RV miles driven | 1,382.6 miles |
| Tolls | $0 |
| Memberships | $55.00 |
| Entertainment/fun/eating out | $374.07 |
| Travel | $308.39 |
| Life insurance | $46.62 |
| Vehicle insurance | $0 |
| Health insurance | $488.82 |
| Various normal expenses | $24.70 |
| Total spent | $4,708.86 |
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 Sherwood Forest in Kissimmee, FL moved to Thousand Trails Orlando in Clermont, FL, stayed the night at a truck stop in Madison, FL. Then we stayed a night at TLC Wolf River Resort in Pass Christian, MS. We stayed a week at Lake Conroe in Conroe, TX and finished
We started out the month at Lake Whitney in Whitney, TX moved to Lake Texoma in Gordonville, TX. We stayed one night at Millwood Landing in Ashdown, AR then moved to Eagles Landing Resort in Grove, OK then stayed a night at Covered Bridge RV Park in Fenton, MO and finished out the month at O’Connell’s RV Campground in Amboy, IL.
What did we do:
April was about getting to travel again! We watched the eclipse in Texas, crossed off a few new states, and went through our first and second tornado warnings in the RV, on back-to-back nights! Spending was quite a bit closer to a normal traveling month. We had a little bit of maintenance costs to replace our RV rim and I took a short trip to Florida, so we spent more than normal in the “travel” category. While our income covered our normal RV expenses, we had a decent tax bill and we were in the red with the income versus expenses.
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RV and vehicle costs
We spent $1379.23. 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
We spent $225.62 this month. This was for a new rim for the RV tire that had the hole.
Camping costs
This was $283.04 for the month. We stayed in Thousand Trails campgrounds most of the month. We spent $80.40 on our monthly annual dues. We spent $151.14 to stay 8 nights at two RPI campgrounds, which are typically $10 but we spent $20/night at a resort & $1.14 in taxes/fees at the other. We also spent $51.50 for Covered Bridge RV park in Fenton, MO.
Groceries
Our groceries were $592.00. This was definitely lower than last month but still a little higher than normal. This does include shopping at Walmart, which sometimes includes purchasing things for the RV such as toilet paper.
Phone and internet/hotspots
We spent $290.87 on our phones and internet. We have an unlimited plan through Verizon for our phones which is $180.87. 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 $640.50 for fuel this month. We drove almost the same amount as last month and we spent about the same too. We use Open Roads which saves us SO much at the pump! Just in April we saved $46.21.
Tolls
We spent $0 on tolls.
Memberships
We spent $55 on memberships. This was all with Escapees – for our mail scanning and shipping.
Entertainment/fun/eating out
We spent $374.07 on fun this month. This was a bit less than last month. After all the fun travel, we hunkered down a bit and only did a few hang outs. But one was visiting The Stockyards in Fort Worth, which is SO fun! We met with friends from Maryland AND completely unplanned, ran into friends from Florida!
Travel
We spent $308.39 on travel this month. This was for flights & a hotel for a quick trip I took to Florida.
Life insurance
Our life insurance was $46.62 for the month.
Health insurance
My health insurance was $488.82 for the month.
Auto insurance
We spent $0 on auto insurance for our truck, we pay bi-annually.
Various normal expenses
The total spent on random other expenses was $24.70.
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!
Herrins on the Roam – family of five in a fifth wheel.
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.
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