The Average Cost Of Living In An RV Will Make You Pause

The RV lifestyle is attractive to a growing number of Americans. According to the RV Industry Association's 2025 insights, 16.9 million households show an acute desire to own an RV in the next five years. But as with any major lifestyle change, it's a good idea to budget for the real cost of living in an RV, and that involves looking at several factors, including the cost of parking, fuel, utilities, and maintenance. Accounting for all these factors, the average cost of living in an RV begins at a low of $800 per month but can rise to $1,700 or more. By extension, living in a Class C RV motor home — popular for balancing comfort and affordability — ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 per month. On top of these costs, you also have to consider the vehicle's depreciation over time. 

The cost of living in an RV is substantially lower than the expenditures associated with living in a brick-and-mortar home. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2023 American households spent an average of $6,440 per month on living expenses. For younger people, living in an RV may be a solution to the concerns over future generations' ability to own a home. In fact, a growing number of long haulers already live in their RVs a full 365 days a year. With the national median cost of a home reaching $403,800 in July 2025, and a decent used RV going for under $50,000, it's easy to see why these vehicles have become full-time housing for some.   

Unless you plan to park ther RV in the same location for the long term, you'll need to factor in the cost of fuel. With the impact of President Trump's newest tariffs on gasoline, fuel sits at an average of $3.19 per gallon as of September 2025. The popular Class C RVs get the best gas mileage, at 10 to 14 miles per gallon. At 14 miles per gallon, a typical, 70-gallon tank could get you 980 miles along to your destination for just over $223 at the gas pump. 

Overnight parking is another major cost to consider. At luxury campgrounds, expect to pay about $80 per night. Meanwhile, $20 to $40 per night will get you a spot at lower-range options; a mid-range campground will set you back $40 to $80 per night. Professional maintenance typically costs between $250 to $500 per year, while utilities, including water, electricity, and internet can vary in price between $100 and $300 per month. 

Owning an RV is more affordable than owning a home in America's most expensive cities. However, unlike homes, which typically increase in value over time, RVs lose value as soon as you drive them off the dealer's lot. You should factor in this depreciation into the cost of living in an RV. According to J.D. Power, a Class C RV will depreciate by 38% in the first five years alone, with both Class A and C RVs shedding half their value within a decade. The bigger RVs, like fifth-wheels, can lose 71% of their value in 10 years.

Expressed in dollars and cents, the depreciation indeed feels like a hidden cost of the RV lifestyle. The more expensive the vehicle, the more you stand to lose as time goes by. Class A is similar to a bus in size and is the largest in price. These are vehicles that are best purchased used unless you've got $200,000 to $300,000 laying around. Class B RVs are modeled closer to vans, and cost $100,000 to $200,000. Meanwhile, Class C RVs are the cheapest and easiest to drive, costing on average $75,000 to $125,000. If you buy an average-priced Class C RV for $100,000, you'll struggle to sell it for more than $62,000 five years down the road. This translates to a monthly depreciation cost of $633! Even if you plan to own your RV until it's ready for the scrap yard, you should add this depreciation to your projected monthly expenditures.