So, you’ve done it. You’ve navigated the red tape, tackled the European registration, and you’re finally sitting in the driver’s seat of your own motorhome in Europe – on the righthand side of the side but on the lefthand side of the vehicle. For Kiwis and Aussies, the initial investment in a van is a big one, so once you’re on the road, the goal is to make every Euro count. But how much does it cost for van life in Europe?
Europe can be as expensive or as cheap as you make it. While you could easily blow your budget on fancy campsites and dining in Parisian bistros, there’s a much more sustainable way to travel.
Trust us – because we’ve done it twice. We’ve successfully bought and sold TWO motorhomes in Europe and driven to every country in mainland Europe. From fuel-saving driving habits to choosing the right supermarkets, here is our ultimate guide to reducing the cost of vanlife in Europe.
Hey! We are AWAY WITH THE STEINERS. Want to know more about buying a motorhome in Europe?
1. Choose Your Countries Wisely – Van Life in Europe
Geography is perhaps the biggest factor in your daily spend. Europe is not a monolith; prices vary wildly across borders. We found some of our best experiences in Eastern Europe where just so happens the costs are far less. Albeit the roads are far less smooth too. But that is part of the whole adventure, right?
If you’ve been following us for a while youll know that is our style of travel. We love to get off the beaten track and reckon that is where the best adventures – and the most cost effective – vanlife travels are.
- High-Cost Zones: Countries like Norway, Switzerland, and France offer world-class scenery but come with premium price tags for fuel, groceries, and overnight stays. If you spend your entire trip here, your savings will vanish fast.
- Budget-Friendly Gems: For a much more affordable experience, head east or south. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania are absolute paradises for motorhomes. Not only is the scenery rugged and spectacular. But fuel is cheaper, eating out is affordable, and “wild” camping is often much more socially accepted (and free).
2. The Art of Free Camping – Van Life in Europe
Campsites in Europe can range from €20 to €80 per night. If you do that every night, you’re looking at a massive monthly bill. But there are also many (MANY) free camping spots right across the continent that make buying a motorhome in Europe that much more affordable!
- Wild Camping: In many parts of Europe, wild camping is a grey area or perfectly legal if you’re discreet. Use apps like Park4Night to find secluded spots.
- Aires and Stellplätze: Many countries (especially France, Germany, and Italy) provide dedicated motorhome stopovers called Aires or Stellplätze. Many of these are completely free or cost a nominal fee (around €5-€10) for parking, often including water and waste disposal.
3. Equip Your Van for Independence
The best way to save money is to be self-sufficient. If your van isn’t reliant on external services, you can skip the pricey campsites altogether.
- Solar Power: Investing in high-quality solar panels is a game-changer. It allows you to keep your batteries topped up while parked in the wild, powering your lights, water pump, and fridge for free.
- LPG Tanks: As we mentioned in our buying guide, an underslung LPG tank is significantly cheaper to refill in Europe than swapping out small proprietary bottles. But we found the best LPG option was the Netherlands removable bottles with an external port that meant we could refill ourselves (self-service) within Europe. In Morocco we could buy a bottle to go in its place.
Contact EuropeRoadtrip.com and use our code: AWAYWITHTHESTEINERS to receive a €100 discount on the Essentials Package for buying a motorhome in Europe.
4. Opt for Non-Powered Sites – Van Life in Europe
If you find yourself at a formal campsite for a ‘reset’ (laundry and long showers), don’t automatically pay for the electricity hookup. Many campsites charge an extra €5-€10 per night for “EHU” (Electric Hook Up).
If your solar is doing its job and your batteries are healthy, you don’t need it! If you really need a boost, pay for power for just one of the two nights you’re there to top everything up, then go back to 12V. This has got to be one of the best tips for reducing the costs of van life in Europe!
5. Cook Like a Local (and a Van-Dweller)
Eating out in Europe is tempting, but it’s a budget killer. Your motorhome is a kitchen on wheels—use it.
- Fridge Limitations: Remember, European camper fridges are generally small. Don’t try to stock up for two weeks. Buy fresh and buy often.
- Budget Supermarkets: Get to know Lidl and Aldi. They are consistent across Europe and offer the best value for staples.
- Eat Local: Adjust your diet to what is cheap and available in the country you’re in. Don’t look for New Zealand lamb in Italy; buy the local pasta, seasonal vegetables, and regional cheeses. One-pot wonders like risottos, stews, and pastas are your best friends – they save on gas and washing up – and they are delicious!
Cooking in your motorhome is one of the things it is designed for. This will greatly reduce the costs of van life in Europe.
6. Embrace Slow Travel – Van Life in Europe
The faster you move, the more you spend. It’s a simple equation.
Fuel and tolls are among your highest expenses. By staying in one region for a week instead of racing across three countries, you drastically reduce your overheads. Slowing down allows you to find the hidden free spots and local markets that hurried travellers miss.
Wondering About Buying a Motorhome in Europe as a Non-EU Traveller?
7. Gavin’s Driving Advice: Take It Easy
Our resident driver, Gavin, has one golden rule: Don’t push the van.
Most motorhomes have the aerodynamics of a brick. If you try to keep up with the cars on the Autobahn at 120km/h, your fuel consumption will skyrocket. Instead, sit comfortably at 90-95km/h. You’ll use significantly less diesel, and it’s much easier on the engine and tires. You’re on holiday, right? Enjoy the view and let the traffic go past.
8. City Logistics: Park and Ride
Driving a large motorhome into the centre of Paris, Rome, or Barcelona is a recipe for stress and fines.
- Green Zones: Many European cities have ‘Low Emission Zones’ (LEZ) that ban older diesel vehicles or require expensive permits.
- Safety and Savings: It is almost always safer and cheaper to park your van at a secure campsite or ‘Park & Ride’ on the outskirts and take a train or bus into the city.
You’ll save on parking fees, avoid fines, and your home-on-wheels will be much safer than in a cramped city street.
9. Smart Data and Connectivity
Internet can be a hidden drain on your wallet. Plus not to mention that Starlink can be a serious drain on the battery!
- Local SIMs: Instead of using expensive roaming plans from home, look for Europe-wide data SIMs.
- Starlink: This is an amazing new continent-wide option for internet in the van. But do be aware that even the mini-Starlink can use a lot of battery. Plan your battery setup accordingly.
- Free WiFi: Become what we call a ‘data nomad’. Download your maps, movies, and updates when you’re at supermarkets, cafes, or libraries where free WiFi is provided. It saves your paid data for the important stuff—like navigating to your next wild camp!
10. Research Free Activities
Europe is an open-air museum. You don’t need to pay for every tour or museum entry to have an amazing time. Van life in Europe means you can get around all of the incredible free activities to do in Europe – in your home!
- The Great Outdoors: Homemade city tours, skateboarding in Italian carparks, or cycling through historic French villages costs absolutely nothing.
- Free Museum Days: Many world-class museums have ‘free’ days (often the first Sunday of the month). A little bit of research ahead of time can save you hundreds in entrance fees.
Final Thoughts – Van Life in Europe
Van life in Europe is about the freedom of the road, not the luxury of the lifestyle. By being a little bit “Kiwi-ingenious” – cooking your own meals, driving a bit slower, and embracing the less expensive corners of the continent – you can turn a six-month trip into a year-long odyssey – or longer! See you on the road!
Arriving to Amsterdam to buy your motorhome? Check Ibis Schiphol, Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport and Radisson Blu Hotel Schiphol to start your trip.
Read More About Travel in Eastern Europe
- Things To Do In Bucharest, Romania.
- Border Crossing: Romania to Moldova.
- Border Crossing: Kosovo to North Macedonia.
- Things To Do In Podgorica, Montenegro.
- Things To Do In Belgrade, Serbia.
- Border Crossing: Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Border Crossing: Bosnia to Montenegro.
- Things To Do In Chisinau, Moldova.
More Useful Links for Your Travels in Europe and Beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It is easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere online.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Make sure you have insurance before buying a motorhome and planning van life in Europe!