Living in a van for a year really depends on which type of van you buy and what type of lifestyle you lead. If you mostly camp for free on public lands, known as boondocking, you'll pay significantly less than if you pay for a campsite every night. The cost of a camper van can vary between $8,000-$100,000. Your daily cost of living depends on how much you drive the van, whether you cook or go out to eat, how much alcohol you consume, and whether or not you pay for campsites. I think living in a van for a year can be as cheap as $15,000 if you live frugally.