Van dwelling can be very, very inexpensive.
You find a solid vehicle, throw a mattress in the back, snag a parking spot on the coast and Bob's your uncle.
While I'm a far cry from owning a $200,000 tricked out Sprinter rig, my personal #VanLife financial decisions would put me a TINY bit more toward the "GlamperVan" end of the spectrum.
Here it is....
1992 Dodge Ram B350 SportsMobile Van - $6000
Auto Insurance 2016 - $608
Registration 2016 - $306
Proper Motorhome Insurance 2017 - $1029
Registration Renewal 2017 - $82
Mechanic Repairs | Los Angeles - $3000
Mechanic Repairs | Jacksonville - $66
Mechanic Repairs | Jacksonville - $1500
Mechanic Repairs | Tennessee - $615
Mechanic Repairs | Michigan - $410
Solar - Renogy 400W Kit w/ 40A MPPT Controller & 2000 Pure Sine Wave Inverter - $1777
Batteries - (2x) Interstate GC2-HD-AGM 6-volt - $737
VHB Tape for mounting brackets to fiberglass pop-top - $34
Reverse Osmosis Apec ROES UV75 - $300
Misc parts to make RO system work in van - $261
Alarm System + electrical repairs - $1300 + $105 (repair)
New Starter Battery + misc electronics - $138
Amazon Orders: Gear, hardware, tools, gadgets - $2121
Misc Repair Parts: Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, Target - $237
Rust Removal misc parts - $80
Total Fuel - $1440
TOTAL: $22,146
+ Food: $$$$
GRAND TOTAL:
Quite a lot, but not as much as...
1) A new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Ford Transit + Conversion Build costs
2) A new, fancy, pre-built rig that has all of the creature comforts found in my used SportsMobile
3) A less mechanically sound used conversion van
4) Owning a House + Mortgage + Property Taxes + Repairs
5) Rent for a 1-bedroom in San Francisco / New York / Boston / LA / Chicago / Vancouver
6) A $100,000+ student loan
Here's to hoping that the excellent remote support and temporary travel work calls keep rolling in, the mechanical issues slow, fuel prices stay the same or decrease - ELON MUSK, MAKE AN ELECTRIC VAN, MAN!! My health stays solid, the police stay busy with important matters, and that I develop THE MOST EPIC alternate income strategy.
Cheers to #VanLife!