RV houses are becoming significantly popular due to a massive shift in traditional lifestyle and remote working opportunities in the post-pandemic world. Though RVs offer freedom, safety, and low-cost luxury, is it cheaper to live in an RV than in a home?
The shortest answer to this question is yes; it is an economical and environmentally friendly choice to live in an RV that helps to save a lot of money and resources from wastage. However, this choice comes with various implications, costs, and compromises.
Thus, this blog will explore various angles and delve into multiple parameters to comprehensively answer whether it would be cheaper to live in an RV than in a house.
Advantages of living in an RV house:
RV vans offer mobility, flexibility, and a low-maintenance lifestyle, which is impossible in larger houses. Here are some compelling reasons to re-envision your life in an RV van.
Freedom and mobility:
First and foremost, living in an RV gives you something impossible in any other house: freedom. You can choose your chores, traveling and working routine, and your expenses according to your will. In addition, RV helps you choose a path free from mortgage, insurance, taxes, and high maintenance.
Living in an RV makes traveling more accessible and exciting. One can bring their house to the next hill station or a beautiful beach without paying handsome amounts for hotel rentals. Furthermore, it is easier to change your neighborhood if you encounter any social, personal, or environmental issues.
You don’t have to pay moving companies to move your belongings. All in all, RVs promise excitement and liberty that everyone deserves for a happy life.
Enroute people towards simpler lifestyles:
RVs complement the contemporary minimalist lifestyle in the best possible way. A person can easily fit his capsule wardrobe in an RV, eat vegan food, adopt sustainable practices such as recycling and waste minimization, and downsize his demands by living in an RV.
It enables one to spend more time in productive activities such as walking, gardening, and socializing, which is impossible on comfortable couches in luxurious homes. As a result, a person can spend less time on material possessions and more on personal, professional, and spiritual growth.
Eliminate utility bills:
Most importantly, unlike a conventional home, an RV van doesn't have utility bills. One glaring example is access to drinking water. One can readily get free water from sources like national forests, state parks, RV dump stations, and freshwater hookups.
Additionally, sustainable practices such as rainwater harvesting and recycling help to reduce and reuse existing water.
Eco-friendly lifestyle:
RVs are an excellent choice to reduce your carbon emissions and embark on your sustainability journey. Unlike regular homes, RVs offer no extra space for unnecessary decorative items or furniture.
Living in an RV means less consumption of material goods, which ultimately translates into low resource utilization. In RVs, people opt for simple and reusable cleaning solutions for eating, cooking, and cleaning.
Help to conserve and use renewable energy:
If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and are a clean energy enthusiast, then RVs can help to achieve these goals. Individuals can install solar panels on the roof of an RV house that will convert solar energy into electricity.
Luckily, BLUETTI has the most energy-efficient and reliable solar power station and generators for portable solar panels on wheels. However, selecting an appropriate solar generator kit is essential as it depends on the energy demands of an RV van. According to the energy statistics by BLUETTI, the total energy demand of an RV van is 980 Watts, which is sufficient for day and night.
Disadvantages of living in an RV:
Let's accept it: living in an RV is an adventure, but it's not suitable for everyone. This is the reason that people must know the downside of living in an RV van. Here are a few key considerations that should be accounted for before moving in an RV van:
Initial costs:
Converting an RV according to your living needs requires hefty initial costs. These costs depend on multiple factors, such as a specific vehicle's size, brand, model, and features. Additionally, moving in an RV includes sales tax and registration fees, insurance, and repair costs.
These homes on wheels are lightweight and constantly on the road. Therefore, a person must have a sufficient budget for the maintenance of these vehicles from time to time.
Fluctuations in fuel prices:
With changing geopolitical situations and the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, It's a fact that fuel prices are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. This surge in gas prices can significantly impact RV owners' mobility and purchasing power.
Thus, making the necessary calculations before moving to your home on wheels is recommended.
Lack of space and storage:
RVs are compact houses with limited space and storage options. This can be challenging and requires compromise on a lot of things. Similarly, RVs do not have enough space for hefty furniture, gadgets, or machinery. This comes with cons like buying multi-purpose items, getting dressed in a smaller closet, taking showers in a tiny bathroom, cooking in a tiny kitchen, or doing laundry in a small corner.
In addition, you might not have space to welcome guests or hold social gatherings inside your RV due to minimum space.
Exposure to the external environment:
RV homes are less resistant to temperature fluctuations, weather abnormalities, noise pollution, and humid environments. So there are chances that you have to suffer from severe cold in winter and extreme heat in summer.
In addition, RVs are more susceptible and have greater chances of exposure to pollution, molds, and mildew than regular homes. So be prepared for these challenges ahead before moving into an RV.
Connectivity Issues:
It is impossible to visualize our lives without the internet these days. RVs, however, are at greater risk of interrupted or slow internet speed due to constant changes in geographical location.
So, it is recommended to have a backup internet plan (such as cellular data) to avoid unnecessary interventions in your work.
Parking issues:
RVs are ideal for wanderlust; however, exploring large cities in them is impossible due to parking restrictions or high fares. In addition, one might not be allowed to park an RV near a residential area or high-rise building.
Therefore, prepare for more significant commutes or high campground fees before opting for an RV.
Is it worth it to live in an RV?
The answer to this question mostly depends on the personal choices of a person. If a person is free-willed, enjoys connecting with nature, has no issues with constant traveling, has a minimalist lifestyle, and has limited resources, then an RV is the right choice for you.
However, one must understand that despite offering an ideal, independent, and adventurous lifestyle, RVs are not a go-to solution for everyone. Life in an RV comes with adjustments and occasional inconveniences.
But, preplanning and flexibility can help to resolve these issues. It is crucial to make this decision wisely by considering all the pros and cons to save oneself from unforeseen situations.
Would it be cheaper to live in an RV than in a house?
Living in regular houses is more challenging than it seems. Utility payments, property taxes, maintenance costs, and home insurance are essential to maintaining a regular house. This fixed cost may include an additional $200-$800 on repairs, making it complicated for average citizens. It should be noted that no other living expenses, such as electricity, propane, or lifestyle, are added to this expense. The need for furniture, ornaments, paints and paneling, home appliances, and crockery are some of the essential requirements of a regular house.
In comparison to regular houses, living in an RV is significantly cheaper. The person has to pay the initial cost of purchasing an RV, which may range between $10000-$50000. In addition, RV costs also include campsite fees ranging between $10-$50 per night, insurance, and fuel costs of $150-$300 per month. The total RV cost may vary between $1500-$3000 a month, significantly lower than living in a house.
Taking the next step: What is the right power source for an RV?
Once you have decided to settle down in an RV, the most crucial step is to find a cost-effective and energy-efficient generator for your RV. According to the estimates, an RV requires 3072Wh of energy to power appliances such as heaters, mobiles, laptops, microwaves, stoves, lights, etc.
So, if you want to go off-grid completely, solar energy is the cleanest, cost-effective, long-lasting, and eco-friendly choice to power up your RV. However, one most important consideration is that each RV house has different electricity needs due to the number of electrical appliances the residents use, resulting in no fixed parameter for its selection.
Below are some most recommended portable generator choices from various RV enthusiasts that you can consider according to your needs.
Recommended BLUETTI solar panel kits for RVs:
Selection of the right solar panel kit is essential to living a hassle-free life in an RV. A regular solar panel kit includes one or more solar panels, brackets, wires, and a charge controller. In addition, this system requires batteries and an inverter to run AC-powered appliances and to store surplus energy.
If you are new to this world, let us introduce you to the finest solar portable energy station from BLUETTI.
BLUETTI AC300 + B300:
If you are looking for a long-lasting, convenient, efficient, and cost-effective 24/7 solar power supply, then BLUETTI AC300 +B300 is the right choice. This portable power station comes in a timely, lightweight, and compact storage solution that is easy to carry in your RV van.
This 3000W AC pure Sine Wave Inverter offers a 6000 surge with 3072Wh expandable capacity. The product uses a Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery, which is an ideal investment due to its high discharge and charge efficiency. Its zero-maintenance battery offers a longer life span and up to 80% life cycles.
BLUETTI AC300 is an all-in-one backup power station that has seven charging ways. In this way, an RV owner can use direct AC, solar energy, car battery, generator, lead acid battery, duel AC, or AC with solar combination to meet the electricity demands of an RV home.
Another significant fissure of this product is remote activation via the BLUETTI mobile app. Most importantly, the product comes with a handsome 4-year warranty, thus is the ultimate bliss for RV owners.
In case your RV has more electrical devices, the best way to meet your electricity demand is by incorporating the Fusion Box Pro, which enables the integration of two AC300 units through easy product customization. In this way, this device can meet your electricity demands for days without interruption and thus is ideal for traveling in low-sunshine areas. This portable power station promises up to 8 times more energy and can boost up to 24,576Wh.
BLUETTI AC200 max:
Another cost-efficient solar generator kit option for RVs is BLUETTI AC200MAX, suitable for efficiently running high electricity demand equipment and devices. This reliable and efficient clean energy source is all you can ask!
This portable power station offers an amazing extended time that makes it one of the finest travel partners. This all-inclusive home backup battery offers 2048Wh power and can manage power surges up to 4800Wh.
Final word:
Living in an RV is an excellent move towards a cost-saving, low-maintenance, and easy-to-maintain lifestyle. This nomadic lifestyle has no strings attached and offers the ultimate freedom to explore and live your life to the fullest. A BLUETTI portable power station would be your ideal partner to embark on this adventurous lifestyle. Make this transition today and make it convenient by choosing BLUETTI home battery backup. Ciao!
