The True Cost Of Living ‘Off The Grid’ Has Some People Packing Their Bags

The 'off the grid' lifestyle refers to those who don’t use a national supply for their various daily needs. That means no national grid for electricity, no public utility source for water and no main pipelines for gas. When it comes to food, meanwhile, you can forget about those trips to the nearest big-box supermarket!

Those who fully commit to such a drastic life change believe it has many benefits. It’s a more environmentally friendly way of living and also allows individuals to be entirely self-sufficient. Plus, being off the grid ensures that you never have to be faced with a mountainous energy bill ever again!

You might not know anyone who has committed to the off the grid lifestyle, but it is becoming an increasingly popular way to abandon the pressures of modern-day living. And it’s not always a solitary thing, either. Yes, there are whole hosts of thriving communities who are able to provide support and share their experiences.

Of course, there’s a lengthy list of things you need to think about before deciding whether off the grid living is for you. The most important of these is, of course, getting a roof over your head. Also, if you go all-in and decide to build your shelter from scratch, then you’ll have to decide exactly where you want to lay down your roots.

Make sure you research the various land rules and regulations in the subdivision, county, and state you’re planning to build in. Certain areas have different stipulations when it comes to composting waste matter, owning livestock, and implementing greywater systems, for example. Though no matter where you are in the United States, you should be able to purchase up to 2 land acres for no more than $20,000, according to the Spin the Globe Project website.

The exact price will depend on several aspects such as how much the land is covered by trees, where the nearest town is, and the state of road maintenance. Other factors include crop soil quality, scenery, and access to power and water sources. But how much land are you likely to need?

Well, if you aren’t interested in keeping any goats or chickens, then a single acre should be plenty. Though if you’re planning to raise livestock, maintain a greenhouse, or develop the land into something other than just a single home, then you may need at least 5 acres. And the price per acre will also differ depending on which state you’re in.

Yes, in 2021 you could buy 10 acres of land for $18,500 in the Arizona city of Williams, as per the Spin the Globe Project. But if you were looking for space in Madeline, California, then you could purchase twice that size for nearly a grand less! Perhaps the most valuable area belongs to Rawlins, Wyoming, where $20,000 will buy you a whopping 40 acres!

So, if you’re not too fussy about where your off the grid experience will be, then it definitely pays to shop around. Once you are aware of all the ins and outs, it’s then time to make another big decision: what kind of shelter are you going to live in? Well, there are certainly plenty of options to choose from. 

This is undoubtedly the most hassle-free option, but it could also be the costliest. In some areas you can apparently buy a two-bedroom, one-bathroom place complete with underground water cistern and gas-powered generator for under $90,000. This is also a tempting choice for those who don’t have the money outright to build their own home from scratch and can rely on a mortgage.

Who hasn’t dreamed of building their own house at some point? This is undoubtedly the most romantic option, but it’s also one of the most labor-intensive. More than two-thirds of your costs will go towards hiring tradesmen unless you’re prepared to do most of the handiwork yourself. The average cost of building a traditional house is around $75,000, according to the Spin the Globe Project.

Ever watched Tiny House Nation and thought “I can do that”? Well, going miniature is far more conducive to living off the grid than buying or building a more conventional home. If you’re thinking of residing in a place that's 350 square feet or less, then you can apparently expect to dish out up to $30,000 for a new build or anywhere from $35-$120,000 for one that already exists.

An Earthship sounds like the kind of living quarters you’d expect to see in a sci-fi franchise. In fact, it’s simply the name for a home that consists of recycled and natural materials. It won’t be in everyone’s budget, though. As per the Spin the Globe Project, building an Earthship can cost from $150 per square foot all the way up to $225! On average, this means you will have forked out $150,000 by the time you’re ready to settle in.

Of course, you may decide that you want the opportunity to up sticks whenever you feel like it. A mobile home or RV is therefore the perfect choice of living arrangement. The average cost for the former is reportedly $42,000, while for the latter it’s a more affordable $10,000. That’s only for a used one, though. If you want to splash out on a brand-new vehicle, you could pay up to $300,000!

You could also spend anywhere from $10,000-$80,000 on a second-hand camper van, according to the Spin the Globe Project. Or if you fancy taking on a DIY project then you could save thousands of dollars by building out a low top van. Just don’t forget your license plate, insurance, and vehicle registration costs, too.

If you truly want to embrace the natural way of living, then how about a good old-fashioned yurt? It’s certainly much cheaper than a new-fangled Earthship, that’s for sure. The price all depends on the materials, insulation level, and general size of the thing, of course. But you can apparently build a decent yurt for roughly $5,000.

If you really want to go back-to-basics, then how about a tent? You can get your hands on a half-decent 5 meter / 16 foot bell version for under $600 online. Though you’ll also need to purchase a tent deck to avoid your low-budget home from getting flooded. Don’t forget a tent stove if you don’t want to live off cold baked beans for the rest of your life, too.

Now that we’ve covered the small matter of shelter, what about one of the other absolute bare necessities? Yes, a reliable water source is also something you will need to sort out before completely living off the grid. And as with houses, there are several different options that may be available.

If you’ve always wanted to dig a well, then you’ll have to do some research first – including checking how deep the area’s water table is. You should also be aware that the cost of drilling one can apparently range from an affordable $3,000 to an almighty $60,000! This cost covers the labor, water treatment system, well pump, water storage tank, and permits.

Another option if you are hunting down some H2O could be a rainwater catchment system. This basically enables you to collect around 600 gallons for each inch of rain that falls within a surface of 1,000 square feet. Be careful if you’re living off the grid in Colorado, though, as the practice is pretty much illegal in the state.

The Spin the Globe Project notes that a rainwater catchment system will set you back roughly $2,500 on average. This amount can increase or decrease depending on its size and whether the water cistern is underground or above. You will also need to spend at least a few hundred dollars on rain gutter tools and supplies such as downspout outlets, metal snips, and sealant. 

You may well decide that water hauling is the system for you. For this you’ll require a water container that’s portable and a vehicle that can deal with its weight. This is a common method in Colorado, of course, and in areas which don’t get much rainfall. But for others living off the grid, it can be a more expensive option in the long run.

And now we come to energy. If you’re going completely off the grid you’ll have to buy one solar panel, battery, and inverter apiece. This will cost approximately $1,000 and can be expanded on as required, as per the Spin the Globe Project. Of course, the bigger the house and its number of occupants, the more money you’ll need to pay out.

If wind or solar-powered energy isn’t a viable choice, then you might think about a renewable electric system. This can be negotiated into your mortgage, and you can even make cash back from it by allowing the grid to buy any power left over. Also, lease-to-buy programs are another option.

It’s not the most glamorous part of living off the grid, but you can still save money from it. Yes, composting toilets can apparently cost as little as $1,000. They also enable all solid waste to be broken down into compost and fertilizer, though you will have to research whether your particular area requires a greywater system or the more expensive septic kind.

So, you’ve got your shelter, energy source, and water system sorted. But what about putting food on the table? As per the Spin the Globe Project, you’ll need at least a single acre per person on average if you’re planning to grow everything you eat. The seeds that get planted on there are practically a bargain, mind you. Yes, you only need to spend about $100 for a family of four per annum.

Of course, you might want to treat yourself to a fruit tree or berry bush, too, which can cost just as much as your average yearly amount of seeds. Then there’s all the gardening equipment you need to ensure everything grows to its full potential. You’ll also have to consider an irrigation system and some fencing to make sure no pesky creatures get to your food before you do.

A greenhouse could also be another invaluable buy for those living off the grid in a much windier or chillier climate. For those who prefer the DIY approach, you can build one for as little as $100. The space can also store a greywater system, which will keep it warm and dry in the winter months.

Of course, there's a host of costly things that you might not have thought about when it comes to living off the grid. Take internet access, for example. It’s unlikely that you’ll get super-fast broadband connection if you’re going entirely off the grid. If you want to regularly check your emails and social media, you may have to pay for satellite internet.

And even when you’re living off the grid, you still have to pay property tax. The exact amount will, of course, depend on the size of your land and house, but it will at least be a couple hundred dollars. Then there’s insurance – not only for the home, but for your health and car, too.

We’ve not even mentioned car fuel, backup generator, toiletries, medication, and additional foods that can’t be sourced naturally. You’ll also have to pay a small amount per month to get rid of all your trash at a nearby dump. A couple of small containers filled with garbage should set you back about $5 a month.

So, you may be wondering how on earth you'll manage to fit all this rainwater collecting, food growing, and house building in between the daily grind. Well, for many who commit to the off the grid lifestyle, a full-time job becomes a thing of the past. Take blogger Wren Everett and her partner, who left their city jobs and have since reaped the rewards.

Everett explained, “We now make money through a funny patchwork of different little side enterprises, and it’s enough for our simple life. Many of our needs are now managed by our own hands. We don’t have to report to a boss, punch a time card or go to staff meetings. I love knowing that all of the (immense) efforts we spend throughout the day goes directly into feeding, clothing, warming and building our family and our life.”

How much in total will the 'off the grid' living experience cost, then? According to the Spin the Globe Project, if you’re going to do things entirely on the cheap, then you can wave goodbye to all of today’s mod cons for just over $12,000! But the average price is actually more than 18 times that amount at a little more than $222,000.

Now, that may sound like a colossal amount, but it's largely a one-off payment which allows you to live almost for free for the rest of your life if you’re going fully off the grid. Once you’ve got all your home, energy, and food needs all set up, then you can sit back and start counting all the dollars you’re saving — that is, if you plan everything correctly.

If you’re seriously thinking about making such a major lifestyle change, what can you do to prepare? Blogger Everett recommends carrying out its practices as much as you can at home to determine whether it really is the life for you. This includes buying a wood stove to heat your bathing water, clothes, and food.

Now is also the time to put your practical skills to the test. Try and avoid using any time-saving gadgets in your daily life and do things the old-fashioned way. Instead of using a breadmaker, knead some dough with your own hands. Similarly, hang your laundry out on a line in the fresh air rather than in the dryer.

You should also get used to life without TV, gaming, or any other form of modern entertainment you can usually access 24/7. Leave your inner couch potato behind and start spending your spare time learning or developing a new craft. Knitting, for example, or cooking or sewing. Or you could start working your way through that pile of books that have been sitting on your shelves for years.

Talking of shelves, get ready to part with them if you eventually decide to take the leap into the off the grid world. Those who have already done so recommend selling everything apart from the bare essentials before leaving the everyday world behind. And the money that you make from parting with all your possessions can help fund your new life, too!

Of course, most 'off the grid' enthusiasts would probably agree that the biggest obstacle isn't money or resources, but loneliness. Living off the grid may sound rejuvenating in theory, but until you actually try it, you won't know for sure that you can handle it. Thankfully, there may be a way for you to take a trial run.

If you're willing to leave it up to fate, you can try off the grid living for free through contests. For example, it was all thanks to the Swedish Göteborg Film Festival that a woman named Lisa Enroth was able to leave all modern conveniences behind for a week. During this week, Enroth experienced true isolation — and walked away with a life-changing realization.

The film festival offered a once in a lifetime chance to recharge. It’s good to take a day, or even an hour to hang out with yourself. There’s some stigma around enjoying alone time, which can get in the way of the joy of pure solitude. But according to experts, prioritizing solitude makes a big difference.

According to a 2019 interview with the New York Times, speech-language pathologist Dr. Angela Grice said, “Cultivating this sense of being alone and making the choice to be alone can help you to develop who you are, your sense of self, and what your true interests are." Not only that, but solitude can also boost creativity.

Experiencing true solitude can feel impossible with phones and constant access to the internet, and that’s what Göteborg Film Festival was promising. It was an opportunity to stay, alone, on an isolated island, complete with a lighthouse. There, the chosen winner would watch movies and enjoy alone time in a way they’d never had before.

So when Lisa, a Swedish nurse, saw the festival’s short contest commercial, she knew she wanted to enter. "It was brilliantly done," she said. The film showed a woman landing on the island as a thunderstorm threatened to start. The isolated environment was just what she needed to recharge from the stress of day-to-day life.

Lisa needed a break from her work — she was an emergency room nurse in Skövde, Sweden. Nursing is a demanding, tiring, and sometimes thankless job, so the chance to watch movies for a week, where no patients or life-threatening duties called, looked like a vacation to her. She quickly applied.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Lisa said. Fortunately, the film festival representative agreed that she was an ideal candidate. Out of the 12,000 applicants, Lisa was the winner. There was no going back now, as she officially committed to staying on the Swedish island of Hamneskär — alone.

Hamneskär, near Marstrand in western Sweden, is a mostly empty landmass that holds the iron lighthouse, Pater Noster — "Our Father" in Latin. Its name references the “Lord’s Prayer,” which sailors tend to mutter as they maneuver their ship around the difficult waters near the island.

Lisa’s week to remember began on January 30, 2019. She arrived in Hamneskär, where a helmsman took her to the island in his small boat. The weather was stunning, and Lisa enjoyed how the landscape stretched boundlessly around her. This was only the beginning of her adventure.

Once Lisa and her captain were close enough to the island, she finally had a long look at her temporary home. "The first impression of the island?” she said. “Beautiful, small, just tranquil." Even better, the private island had a cute cottage where she could watch movies.

The small boat puttered back across the ocean. As she sat on the couch, the noise from the ship’s engine faded into nothing. "It was so silent. It was like someone turned off the sound," she said. She was officially alone — well, in theory.

Technically, Lisa wasn’t alone for the entire week. Another person was on the opposite side for safety reasons, but they kept their distance. So, Lisa had her much-anticipated decompression time. "I was really looking forward to just trying to reflect and pause for a bit,” she said. But there were a few things she hadn't anticipated.

The first night in her newly redesigned lighthouse cabin was strange. For Lisa, a person who's both afraid of the dark and a huge horror film fan, she'd watched enough scary movies to know her circumstances were ripe for some kind of spooky happening. Naturally, her mind tossed over what could potentially be lingering outside the isolated lighthouse.

Thankfully, those fears faded with the next morning’s sunrise. Lisa loved watching the start of the sun’s journey so much that she rose with it every day of her isolated week. "The sunlight is unbelievable," Lisa recorded in her diaries. After that, she filled her days with activities she'd sorely missed.

Besides watching a ton of movies, Lisa spent her days using the island’s gym, walking, painting, and recording video diaries. She left her phone and computer at home (per the contest rules) and, surprisingly, did well without either device.

"It was great not being attached to your phone and just watching a movie without the distraction," Lisa said. The biggest downside to not having internet access? Lisa felt cut off from easy answers. In one of her video diaries, she listed all the random questions that popped into her head that she couldn’t answer without the help of Google.

Without distractions or a movie watching partner, Lisa paid closer attention to the films she watched, including a documentary about Eurovision and a Taiwanese film. She felt the solo views seriously enhanced her experience. "I had to try to process [the movies] by myself, and that means they stayed with me for a long time,” she said. 

Over the course of the week, Lisa watched close to 30 movies and some short films as well. She definitely made the most out of the movie-watching part of the contest! Despite her fear of the dark, she made the most of her time tucked away in isolation.

This was in part because she chose her alienation. "I'm thinking about is all the people who don't choose to be alone, and they are forced to be alone — and that is so much harder than what I did. What I did was just enjoyable," she says. Being alone doesn’t have to be terrifying. 

That wasn’t the only lesson Lisa took back to Sweden. "I also think that the island has taught me not to rush so much," she continued. "Of course, at work, there will be stress and stuff like that. But in my spare time, I do think I would feel better if I just took it a bit slow."