How Much Does Van Life Actually Cost in the UK?
The internet is full of "I left my £2,000-a-month flat and now live in a van for £400!" stories. The reality is more nuanced. Yes, van life can save you money on rent, but there are costs people do not mention — depreciation, maintenance, insurance, campsites, and the occasional emergency that leaves you stranded 200 miles from home.
This guide breaks down the real costs of UK van life in 2026, based on actual spending data from people doing it full-time.
Upfront Costs
The van — The single biggest cost. A usable base van (Transit, Ducato, Sprinter, Crafter) costs £3,000-15,000 depending on age, mileage, and rust condition. A professionally converted campervan costs £20,000-60,000. DIY conversion materials add £2,000-8,000 depending on your spec.
Most people underestimate the van purchase cost. A £5,000 van with 120,000 miles will need mechanical work within the first year. Budget £1,000-2,000 for immediate mechanical sorting.
Initial setup — Insulation, flooring, windows, roof vent, electrics, gas system, water system, furniture. DIY: £2,000-5,000. Professional conversion: £10,000-25,000.
Essential gear — Fridge, hob, heater, bedding, kitchen kit, tools. £1,000-3,000.
Total upfront — Expect £8,000-25,000 for a DIY build using a £5,000-10,000 van, or £30,000-80,000+ for a turnkey campervan.
Monthly Running Costs
Insurance — £400-1,200 per year (£35-100 per month). Specialist campervan insurance through companies like Adrian Flux, Brentacre, or A-Plan is usually cheaper than declaring a self-build to a mainstream insurer. "Lived-in" status, where the van is your primary residence, is worth asking about — some insurers understand, some do not.
MOT + servicing — £300-600 per year (£25-50 per month). A full service once a year, MOT at £55, and budget for unexpected repairs.
Vehicle tax (VED) — £0-600 per year depending on CO2 emissions and age. Many older vans are in the £300-350 band.
Fuel — £100-300 per month depending on how much you drive. Diesel at £1.45-1.60/L (2026 prices). If you live in your van full-time and work remotely, you might only drive 500 miles per month. If you travel regularly, 1,000+ miles is common.
Campsites — The biggest variable. Wild camping is free. A CL/CS (Certificated Location, small 5-pitch sites) costs £10-20 per night. A commercial campsite with facilities costs £20-40 per night. If you stay on campsites 2 nights a week at £25 average, that is £200 per month. Many full-timers wild camp 90% of the time and use campsites for laundry and showers.
Food — £150-300 per month. Cooking your own meals from Aldi/Lidl is much cheaper than eating out or relying on service station sandwiches. Same as home, really — your food budget depends on your habits.
Gas — £15-30 per month for cooking and possibly heating. A Calor 4.5kg propane bottle costs about £25 to refill and lasts 4-6 weeks for cooking only.
Mobile data — £20-80 per month depending on your plan. Three's 5G plan with unlimited data (about £25-30/month) is popular among van lifers. EE and Vodafone have better rural coverage. Starlink is £75/month but offers proper broadband in remote areas.
Laundry + showers — £30-60 per month if using campsites or leisure centres for these facilities.
Miscellaneous — £50-150 per month. Parking fines, replacement gear, toilet chemicals, eating out, activities.
Real Monthly Budgets
Budget full-timer (mostly wild camping):
- Insurance: £50
- Servicing/MOT: £35
- Tax: £30
- Fuel: £100
- Campsites: £60
- Food: £200
- Gas: £20
- Mobile data: £30
- Laundry/showers: £30
- Misc: £70
- Total: £625/month
Comfortable full-timer (regular campsites):
- Insurance: £70
- Servicing/MOT: £45
- Tax: £40
- Fuel: £200
- Campsites: £300
- Food: £250
- Gas: £25
- Mobile data: £50
- Laundry/showers: £40
- Misc: £100
- Total: £1,120/month
Neither figure includes the initial purchase cost, depreciation, or major repairs. A realistic "true cost" including van depreciation spread over 5 years adds another £100-300 per month.
Income Ideas for Full-Time Van Life
- Remote work — The classic. Software dev, digital marketing, copywriting, customer support, VA work. Requires reliable internet.
- Seasonal work — Festivals, campsites, farm work, Christmas delivery driving. Many van lifers work intensively for a few months then travel.
- Courier/delivery — Amazon Flex, Deliveroo, local courier work. A van is an asset.
- Selling online — eBay, Vinted, Facebook Marketplace. Source items from charity shops, car boots, or clearance sales.
- Photography/content — If you build an audience, van life content can generate income. Do not rely on this — most van life influencers do not make enough to cover their costs.
Saving Money on Van Life
Wild camp strategically — Use Park4Night, Search4Sites, and Google Maps to find free or cheap overnight spots. Toilet blocks at village halls, pub car parks (ask permission), farm CLs, and coastguard car parks are all options.
Cook from scratch — £20/week at Aldi feeds one person well. £20 at a service station does one meal.
Do your own maintenance — Basic van mechanical work (oil changes, filters, brake pads) is straightforward on most panel vans. YouTube and a socket set save hundreds per year.
Insure properly — Do not lie to insurers about modifications or lived-in status. If you need to claim and they find out, you could be left with nothing and find future insurance prohibitively expensive or impossible.
Join communities — Facebook groups, forums, and van life meetups often share tips on cheap overnight spots, affordable mechanics, and places to fill up with water.
Final Thoughts
Van life is cheaper than renting a flat in most of the UK, but it is not free. Budget £700-1,200 per month for a realistic full-time lifestyle, with a contingency fund of at least £2,000 for emergencies. The key to making it work financially is not just cutting costs — it is having a reliable income source and being prepared for the unexpected.
