The Short Answer: $750 to $2,000 Per Month
Most monthly RVers spend between $750 and $2,000. Frugal full-timers land near the bottom. Resort dwellers climb past the top. Your park choice drives most of that gap. Meanwhile, climate and rig size matter almost as much.
Note the exclusions, though. These numbers skip groceries, fuel, healthcare, and any RV loan payment. Budget those separately.
Site Rent: Your Biggest Line Item
Expect $450 to $900 monthly at most private parks. Covered and premium sites cost more. Winter resorts in Florida or Arizona often charge $1,000 and up.
Location drives price hard. Parks near booming job sites raise rates quickly. Conversely, rural parks stay affordable. Also, ask exactly what the rent includes. Many parks bundle water, sewer, trash, and Wi-Fi. That bundle saves real money every month.
Electricity: The Budget Wild Card
Nearly every park meters electricity for monthly guests. Therefore, your bill swings with the weather. Expect roughly $50 during mild months. Then brace for $150 to $220 in a Texas August.
Big rigs with two air conditioners burn more. Electric heat drains wallets in January, too. Ask the office about a site's recent usage history. Managers usually share it happily.
Utilities Beyond Power
Propane handles heat, hot water, and cooking. Budget $15 to $75 monthly, depending on the season. Winter easily triples that number.
Most parks fold water, sewer, and trash into rent. Some meter water separately, however. Laundry adds $20 to $40 when machines charge per load.
Internet, Insurance, and Mail
Park Wi-Fi rarely survives a video call. Consequently, most full-timers buy a backup connection. A cell hotspot runs $50 to $90 monthly. Starlink costs more, yet travels anywhere.
Full-time RV insurance runs $80 to $200 per month. Standard policies exclude full-time living. Therefore, tell your agent the truth upfront. Also, budget $15 to $30 for mail forwarding.
Maintenance: Never Skip This Line
Rigs break. Roofs leak, tires age, and appliances quit without warning. So set aside $75 to $200 monthly. That fund prevents a credit card emergency later.
A Sample Monthly Budget
| Expense | Lean | Typical | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site rent | $450 | $650 | $1,100 |
| Electricity | $50 | $110 | $220 |
| Propane | $15 | $35 | $75 |
| Internet | $50 | $90 | $165 |
| Insurance | $80 | $130 | $200 |
| Maintenance fund | $75 | $125 | $200 |
| Mail and misc. | $15 | $30 | $60 |
| Total | $735 | $1,170 | $2,020 |
How to Trim Your Monthly Costs
- Sign a monthly agreement. Nightly rates cost nearly triple.
- Choose a park that bundles utilities into rent.
- Grab shade or a covered site. Your AC works less.
- Skirt your rig before winter. Insulation cuts propane use fast.
- Ask about workforce, military, or extended-stay discounts.
- Book snowbird destinations during their off-season.
Is It Cheaper Than an Apartment?
Usually, yes. A typical Texas one-bedroom rents above $1,200. Add utilities, and $1,400 vanishes quickly. Meanwhile, a solid RV site totals closer to $1,100 all-in.
Still, RV living demands upkeep. You'll trade some rent for repairs. Nevertheless, most full-timers keep more cash each month.