Everyone’s talking about full-time RV living. Instagram makes it look like an endless vacation. The reality? It’s complicated.

I lived in an RV full-time for 18 months while freelancing as a travel writer. Here’s what I learned.

The Real Costs (Not What YouTube Says)

YouTube videos claim you can live in an RV for $1,000/month. That’s wildly misleading.

My actual monthly costs (solo, 2023-2024):

Fixed Costs:

  • RV payment: $650 (I bought used, financed)
  • RV insurance: $125
  • Campground/parking: $600-900 (varies wildly)
  • Phone/internet: $150 (Verizon unlimited + mobile hotspot)
  • Storage unit: $120 (for stuff that doesn’t fit)

Variable Costs:

  • Gas/diesel: $300-500 (depending on how much I moved)
  • Groceries: $350
  • Propane: $40
  • Laundromat: $30
  • Gym membership: $35 (for showers when boondocking)
  • Maintenance/repairs: $200 average (some months $0, some months $2,000)

Total: $2,600-3,100/month

Add if you have:

  • Health insurance: $400-600/month
  • Mail forwarding service: $15-30/month
  • Streaming services: $30-60/month

Full-time RV living is NOT cheaper than renting an apartment in most cases. I was paying $2,600+/month to live in 200 square feet. You do it for the lifestyle, not the savings.

What No One Tells You

1. You’re Always “Home”

In an apartment, you leave for work, come home to relax. In an RV, home IS where you work, sleep, cook, and relax. All in 150-300 square feet.

This means:

  • You can’t “get away” from your partner (if you have one)
  • Bad weather feels claustrophobic
  • Work-life balance is hard when your desk is also your dining table
  • You’re constantly reorganizing the same tiny space

I loved it 70% of the time. The other 30%? I desperately wanted a door I could close between my bedroom and my office.

2. Maintenance is Constant

RVs are houses that drive down the highway at 65 mph. Things break. Constantly.

My 18-month maintenance list:

  • Water pump failed: $240
  • Fridge stopped cooling: $380 repair
  • Tire blowout: $320 (tire + roadside service)
  • Awning motor died: $450
  • Slide-out seal leaked: $180
  • Generator wouldn’t start: $290
  • Bathroom vent fan cracked: $85

Total: $1,945 in unexpected repairs over 18 months (average $108/month)

And I bought a 2018 RV in good condition. Older RVs are worse.

3. Internet is Your Biggest Challenge

If you work remotely, internet is critical. It’s also unreliable.

What I used:

  • Verizon unlimited hotspot (worked 70% of places)
  • Campground WiFi (useless for video calls)
  • Starlink (added this year 1, game-changer but $120/month)

Reality:

  • National parks = no service
  • Rural areas = spotty at best
  • Campground WiFi = too slow for work
  • Cell boosters help but aren’t magic

I missed deadlines twice because I had no internet. Plan for this.

4. Weather Dictates Your Life

You can’t control the weather, and in an RV, you feel it all.

Summer:

  • AC runs constantly (burns through power and propane)
  • Too hot to be outside during the day
  • Campgrounds with full hookups are expensive

Winter:

  • Furnace runs all night (propane refills every 4-5 days)
  • Pipes freeze if you’re not careful
  • Some campgrounds close entirely

Storms:

  • Wind rocks the RV (terrifying at night)
  • Heavy rain is LOUD on the roof
  • Can’t level properly on muddy sites

I spent July in Arizona once. The AC couldn’t keep up. It was 95°F inside. I booked a hotel for three nights.

The Good Parts (Because There Are Many)

1. You Wake Up In Different Places

This never got old. One week I camped on the Oregon coast. Two weeks later, I was in the Smoky Mountains. A month after that, the Texas Hill Country.

Best mornings:

  • Waking up to ocean views in Big Sur
  • Coffee overlooking the Grand Canyon
  • Fall colors in Vermont

You can’t put a price on this.

2. Minimalism is Forced (In a Good Way)

You can’t buy stuff you don’t need. There’s no space.

I got rid of:

  • 80% of my clothes
  • All my books (switched to Kindle)
  • Kitchen gadgets I never used
  • “Just in case” items

It’s freeing. You realize how little you actually need.

3. The RV Community is Real

RVers help each other. I’ve had strangers:

  • Help me back into a tight spot
  • Lend me tools
  • Share WiFi passwords
  • Recommend great boondocking spots

The community aspect is one of the best parts.

Who Full-Time RV Life Is For

You’ll love it if:

  • You’re flexible and adaptable
  • You don’t need much personal space
  • You can work remotely (or are retired)
  • You love travel more than stability
  • You’re okay with constant maintenance
  • You have a sense of adventure

You’ll hate it if:

  • You need routine and stability
  • You like having “your space”
  • You work a traditional 9-5 job
  • You hate small spaces
  • You’re not handy (or willing to learn)
  • You need fast, reliable internet

How to Test It Before Committing

DO NOT sell your house and buy an RV tomorrow.

Test it first:

  1. Rent an RV for 2-4 weeks (not a weekend trip, a real test)
  2. Try different types: Class A, Class C, travel trailer
  3. Stay in different campgrounds: full hookups, no hookups, boondocking
  4. Work from the RV (if you’re remote)
  5. Do it in bad weather (rain, heat, cold)

If you still love it after 2-4 weeks? Consider it seriously.

If you’re already exhausted and ready to go home? RV life isn’t for you, and that’s okay.

My Verdict After 18 Months

I loved full-time RV living, but it wasn’t sustainable for me long-term.

Why I stopped:

  • I wanted a dedicated workspace
  • I was tired of constant maintenance
  • I missed having a “home base”
  • I wanted to travel internationally (hard with an RV)

What I do now:

  • I rent a small apartment in Denver
  • I rent RVs for 2-4 week trips
  • I get the best of both worlds

Full-time RV living taught me I don’t need much to be happy. But it also taught me I need more than 200 square feet to thrive long-term.

Should You Do It?

If you’re curious, try it. Seriously.

Rent an RV for a month. Work from it. Cook in it. Sleep in it during a thunderstorm. See if you love it or if the reality doesn’t match the Instagram version.

For some people, full-time RV life is perfect. For others, part-time RVing (like I do now) is the sweet spot.

Only you can decide which you are.

About Sarah: I lived full-time in an RV for 18 months while working as a travel writer. Now I help people figure out if the RV lifestyle is right for them before they sell everything and regret it. Real advice, not Instagram highlights.