VanLife Connect Travel Budget Planner

Travel Budget Planner

Find out what your trip will really cost — and how long your money will last.

Budget Detail Level

30%

Rough estimate — fill in more sections below for a more accurate result.

Trip Basics

The starting point — everything else adjusts around these.

Your travel budget ($)

Your available travel funds

Travelling as

Travel region

Affects base fuel price. Outback service stations charge significantly more.

Travel demand (affects accommodation pricing)

Peak = school holidays, Easter, July–August in QLD/NT. Off-peak = May–June in most areas.

Fuel Costs

Usually the single biggest daily cost. Get this right.

Vehicle type

Fuel consumption (L/100km)

Fuel price ($/litre)

Adjusts automatically with region above. Override if you know your route better.

Daily driving (km)

km/day average

Mostly on the move (fuel surcharge)

Adds $0.20/L — accounts for remote/highway service station pricing when you're rarely near a town

Accommodation

Where you sleep is the second biggest cost on most trips.

Average nightly cost

Typical vanlife average: $25–$45 depending on how often you use caravan parks.

Your estimated spend $3,150 over 90 nights

Food & Drink

Pre-filled for a couple. Adjust to match how you actually eat on the road.

Weekly groceries ($)

Meals out

Times eating out per week

Average spend per meal per person.

Coffee & cafe stops

Coffees per week

~$5 each

Alcohol (weekly, $)

Income on the Road

Got money coming in while you travel? Enter weekly amounts — see how it changes your numbers.

Include income in my estimate

Offsets daily costs and extends how long your budget lasts

Activities & Experiences

Tours and entry fees add up quickly in popular regions.

Weekly budget for tours & experiences ($)

Scenic flights, boat tours, guided experiences etc.

National park passes & entry fees ($/day)

Enter a daily average. Parks Pass is ~$8/day. Many parks are free. Enter 0 if not applicable.

Vehicle Running Costs

Things break on long trips. Budget for it — this is where most people get caught out.

Monthly maintenance & servicing ($)

Oil changes, filters, minor repairs. Budget more for older vehicles.

Tyre fund — total for trip ($)

A full set of 4WD tyres costs $1,500–$2,500. Worth budgeting even if you don't expect to need them.

Vehicle registration (yearly, $)

Spreads the annual cost across your trip days. Include if rego falls due during travel.

Roadside assistance (NRMA, RAA, RACQ etc.)

~$20/month

Gas bottles (cooking, hot water, heating)

~$25/month

Insurance & Cover

Non-negotiable on a long trip.

Vehicle insurance (monthly, $)

Caravan / van insurance (monthly, $)

Health & ambulance cover (monthly, $)

Ambulance callouts in remote areas can cost $5,000+ without cover.

Medical costs (monthly, $)

Prescriptions, GP visits, dental. Don't overlook this on longer trips.

Connectivity

Data costs in remote Australia are consistently underestimated.

Mobile plan (monthly, $)

Telstra recommended for remote coverage.

Starlink satellite internet

$195/month — increasingly common for long-term travellers

Pre-Departure Costs

One-off costs before you leave. Added to your total, not your daily rate.

Vehicle service & tyres ($)

Gear & equipment ($)

Caravan / van accessories ($)

Fixed Home Costs

Travelling for more than a month? These keep going whether you're on the road or not.

Include fixed home costs in my estimate

Mortgage, rent, utilities, storage etc.

Mortgage or rent (monthly, $)

Utilities (monthly, $)

Home insurance (monthly, $)

Storage costs (monthly, $)

Personal & Miscellaneous

The small stuff that quietly adds up over a long trip.

Laundry (weekly, $)

~$8–10 per wash + dry at caravan parks.

Travelling with pets

Food, vet visits, pet fees at some parks

Monthly pet costs ($)

Clothing & footwear (monthly, $)

Gear wears out faster on long trips. Budget a little even if you don't expect to spend much.

Tolls, parking & ferries (weekly, $)

Subscriptions (monthly, $)

Streaming, WikiCamps, mapping apps etc.

Gifts, souvenirs & miscellaneous (weekly, $)

Other Costs

Anything that doesn't fit above. Add your own line items — enter weekly amounts.

Your Estimate

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Per day

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Per week

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Per month

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Days of travel

Estimated total trip cost

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Where your money goes

What if...

Your Trip at a Glance

Your Biggest Cost Lever

How Long Could You Actually Travel?

Based on your current inputs. See what small changes unlock.

Current Plan

Slow Travel + More Free Camps

Small Income on the Road

These scenarios are indicative estimates based on your current inputs.

Reality Check

Vehicles occasionally break down, often in remote areas — a maintenance buffer is important.
Coastal caravan parks during peak season can be 30–50% more expensive than average.
Food costs often increase in remote regions — experienced travellers stock up before heading into the outback.
"Once in a lifetime" experiences (scenic flights, reef dives) are rarely budgeted for but hard to resist.
Trips rarely go exactly to plan — and that flexibility is often part of the adventure.

"Budget for the trip you planned. But leave room for the trip that actually happens." — experienced traveller

Making Your Budget Go Further

Income per week	Extra travel days funded	Extra months

Many travelling couples pick up occasional work through VanLife Connect — handyman jobs, cleaning, or pet sitting — which can realistically generate $150–$300 per week in busier caravan parks and coastal towns.

VanLife Connect is a free app launching May 10, 2026, built for Australian caravan and van travellers. It includes a marketplace where travellers can offer and find services on the road — everything from mechanical help to guided tours. Join the waitlist — it's free.

Get your personalised budget report

We'll email you a full summary of your estimate with tips based on your numbers — including how to earn income on the road and make your budget go further.

VanLife Connect brings together three hubs in one app

Services

Offer skills or find help from fellow travellers nearby

Community

Share local updates, tips, and useful info at each stop

Travel Mates

Connect with nearby travellers as you move around Australia

Designed to make camp life easier, more connected, and more useful — and to help travellers earn on the road.

Download the App

Get Your Free Travel Budget Planner

Get your personalised budget report