Ah yes, California, the Golden State. It’s the state of dreamers, achievers… and extremely high rent! With the cost of living being so high in Southern California and throughout the entire state, the idea of van life to some may seem especially appealing to residents in Laguna Beach who are looking for alternatives to paying rent, or shudder to think, a mortgage. That begs the following questions: “How expensive is it to live in a van?” and “Is it cheaper to live a van life instead of renting?” In the following Van Life Guide, Sprinter of Laguna Niguel has the answers to all your questions on pursuing a van life in California.
Before we dive into the first few questions we posed at the beginning of the article, let’s start with the basics: Can you live in your van in California? With the new emissions law that has recently gone into place at the beginning of 2023, some vehicles are not legally operable in the state. Luckily, this rule only applies to older diesel vehicles from specific years, and does not include new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans or pre-owned Sprinter Vans. So yes, you can live in your van in California! Your van still has to undergo a smog check in order to be registered with the state; this will cost on average from $29.95 to $69.96 at a STAR station, and it only takes between 15 to 30 minutes.
Now, onto the actual questions this article is based on: “How expensive is van life in SoCal? and “Is it cheaper than renting?” It really depends on where you live in California and how luxurious of a van life you plan to live. As for San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and the rest of Orange County, yes, living a van life is considerably cheaper than renting in SoCal. The median rental rate in 2023 for Orange County is an absurd $2,576 a month. The average monthly cost for a camper van ranges between $800 to $2000. When you compare these figures and lifestyles, van life is the far more appealing option over breaking the bank monthly on rent to live in a stationary place.
Are you ready to start your nomadic lifestyle and sidestep soaring rent prices? Let Sprinter of Laguna Niguel be your first stepping stone towards van life when you explore our new or pre-owned inventories today! We’ll even lend you a helping hand by answering all your upfitting-related questions. Contact us to get started today.
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