The most important thing you can do before buying a campervan is work out what it’s actually going to cost you to live in one. Not the romanticised version — the real one, with fuel, insurance, repairs, food, and all the bits people forget to mention. This breakdown covers full-time campervan life in the UK, Europe, and the US, with honest numbers you can actually plan around.
Once you’ve read through the categories, use VanCalc’s free campervan budget calculator to plug in your own numbers and get a personalised monthly total — in GBP, Euros, or USD.
What Does a Realistic Campervan Budget Look Like?
The short answer: full-time campervan life costs most people between £900–£1,800/month in the UK and Europe, or $1,200–$2,500/month in the US. Where you land in that range depends almost entirely on how much you drive and how often you pay for a campsite.
Let’s go through it category by category.
Fuel — The Biggest Variable
UK/Europe: £150–£350/month | US: $200–$450/month
Fuel will almost always be your biggest monthly expense, and it varies more than any other category. The difference between someone who parks up for a week at a time and someone who drives every day can be £200/month or more.
Most modern campervans run on diesel. In the UK, diesel averages around £1.55/litre at the moment. A Volkswagen Transporter doing 35mpg and driving 800 miles/month spends roughly £160 on fuel. A larger Mercedes Sprinter doing 28mpg over the same distance is closer to £200. Drive more, spend more — it’s that simple.
Use VanCalc’s fuel calculator to get an exact number based on your specific van and planned mileage — it works in mpg or L/100km and in GBP, EUR or USD.
Camping & Overnight Costs
UK/Europe: £0–£300/month | US: $0–$400/month
This is where campervan life can be genuinely free — or surprisingly expensive, depending on your approach. Most experienced full-timers aim for a mix: some paid sites for the facilities, some free overnight spots for the majority of nights.
In the UK, wild camping is only legally permitted in Scotland. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland require landowner permission. In practice, many campervan owners use a combination of:
- Campsites — typically £15–£35/night in the UK
- Pub car parks — often fine if you’re a customer, always ask
- Aire-style stopovers — growing in the UK, common in France
- Motorway services — free for a few hours, not ideal but functional
In Europe, Park4Night is the essential app — hundreds of thousands of community-submitted overnight spots across every country, many of them free. In the US, The Dyrt PRO ($35/year) is the equivalent and worth every penny.
A realistic UK campervan budget assumes roughly 50% free/cheap nights and 50% paid sites, working out to £100–£200/month.
Food & Groceries
UK: £200–£400/month | Europe: £150–£350/month
Cooking in your campervan is one of the best financial decisions you can make. A couple eating out every meal would spend £1,500+ on food alone. The same couple cooking 90% of their meals in the van spends £300–£450/month including the occasional meal out.
A decent campervan kitchen setup doesn’t need to be complicated. A two-burner gas hob and a 12V compressor fridge (~$329/£260) covers everything you need. The fridge is the upgrade that changes daily life the most — no ice, no mess, food stays fresh for days.
Campervan Insurance
UK: £70–£160/month | US: $90–$200/month
Standard vehicle insurance often doesn’t cover full-time campervan living. Many policies have clauses that void cover if the vehicle is your “main residence.” Before you go full-time, make sure your policy specifically covers habitual residence — and that it covers your belongings inside the van.
In the UK, specialist campervan insurers include Adrian Flux, Comfort Insurance, and Brentacre. In the US, Roamly is the go-to for converted campervans — built specifically for full-time living, with contents cover included.
Maintenance & Repairs
Budget: £80–£200/month
This is the number most people underestimate. Campervans break — not catastrophically, and not constantly, but predictably over time. A new alternator costs £300–£600. A set of tyres is £400–£600. A timing belt service on a diesel van is £400–£800.
The standard advice from full-timers: put £100–£150/month into a dedicated repair fund and don’t touch it unless something breaks. The months nothing happens, it accumulates. The months something does happen, you’re covered without stress.
This is also why the emergency buffer in VanCalc’s budget calculator exists — set it to 10–15% and it automatically adds a cushion on top of your known costs.
Phone & Data
UK: £30–£60/month | US: $60–$120/month
If you’re working remotely from your campervan, a reliable data plan is non-negotiable. In the UK, unlimited data SIMs from Three, Smarty, or iD Mobile cost £15–£25/month and include EU roaming — useful if you cross to Europe regularly.
For areas with weak signal, a cellular signal booster makes a significant difference. WeBoost is the most popular option in the US; in the UK, Cel-Fi boosters are widely used.
Gym & Showers
Budget: £20–£40/month
The shower question is the one non-campervan people always ask about. Most full-timers use a combination of campsite showers, gym memberships (PureGym at £20–£25/month has locations everywhere in the UK), and a portable camp shower for off-grid situations.
A portable pressure shower (~$139/£110) heats in the sun and gives you a proper shower wherever you’re parked. For winter, a diesel heater that also heats water is the premium solution.
Full Campervan Budget Summary
| Category | UK monthly | Europe monthly | US monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | £150–£350 | €180–€380 | $200–$450 |
| Camping | £80–£200 | €50–€180 | $0–$280 |
| Food | £200–£400 | €150–€350 | $250–$500 |
| Insurance | £70–£160 | €80–€160 | $90–$200 |
| Maintenance | £80–£200 | €80–€200 | $80–$250 |
| Phone/data | £30–£60 | €25–€60 | $60–$120 |
| Gym/showers | £20–£40 | €15–€35 | $10–$40 |
| Total | £630–£1,410 | €580–€1,365 | $690–$1,840 |
Add a 10–15% emergency buffer and you’re looking at £700–£1,620/month for UK-based campervan life, or €650–€1,570/month across Europe.
Recommended Gear to Keep Costs Down
The right gear makes campervan life significantly cheaper by reducing your dependence on paid facilities and hookups:
- 200W solar panel (~$189/£150) — free power from the sun, no hookups needed
- 12V compressor fridge (~$329/£260) — no ice costs, food fresh for days off-grid
- Diesel air heater (~$120/£95) — cheap to run, essential for UK winters
- Roof vent fan (~$159/£125) — keeps the van cool in summer without running the engine
- Roamly campervan insurance — built for full-time living, from $90/month
The Bottom Line
A realistic campervan budget for full-time living is lower than most people’s rent — and significantly lower if you’re strategic about free camping and cooking your own food. The key is planning it properly before you go, not guessing and hoping for the best.
→ Build your personalised campervan budget for free at VanCalc — in GBP, EUR or USD
Related reads: How Much Does Van Life Cost Per Month? · Van Life Insurance Guide · Van Life for Beginners