With all that is going on in the world today, it should come as no surprise that many people are looking to take off to the country and live as far away from people as possible.
It’s called living off grid.
Not being hooked up to the essentials, and making your own, offers a lot of benefits.
You have more control over your life, you are isolated from a lot of the world’s problems, it’s eco-friendly and you are able to live more connected to nature. But, what about saving money?
This is often touted as a benefit, but how accurate is it?
In this article, we will go over how much it actually costs to live off grid and if you can actually save money by doing so.
Real estate costs
The biggest savings associated with living off grid come with the real estate.
If you are looking to buy some property in a rural area that is not connected to utilities then you are generally going to pay very little for it.
So, yes, in this way you can save a lot of money. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ongoing costs.
You will still be paying real estate taxes in many places.
Though they tend to be very low for areas that are usually considered for off grid living.
Building the house can prove to be very costly however.
Especially if your location is deep in the heart of nature and transporting the material to build the house is not easy to do.
This adds to the cost of building a place.
Which is why the tiny house movement and off grid living are so intertwined as the housing part is also cheap.
Getting power
Connecting to the grid for electricity is the cheapest way to power your home.
Sure, solar power is essentially free when the sun is shining, but the panels and equipment can be expensive.
Which, again, is why many people who go off grid live in tiny houses or mobile homes as powering a tiny house requires less money to install these solar panels than when you have a full sized house.
Over time, these panels will pay for themselves if you live in a sunny area and never have to pay another electricity bill.
So, how cheap it will be to live off grid when it comes to power highly depends on how big your house is going to be and what your energy needs are.
Water supply
If you are not connected to the city or county water supply, then it is up to you to find water.
Now, you may have a lake or stream that is nearby and you can use that water for your needs as long as you own the area where the water is flowing.
There is also the possibility of collecting water and storing it in a cistern.
If there is a lot of rain water then this is a very cheap option.
In times of drought, however, you could be looking at shipping water in if there isn’t enough precipitation for your water needs which gets very expensive.
However, most off grid properties will need a well. The cost of digging a well can be quite high depending on the type.
An artesian well is usually more affordable than a deep dug well but you have to live in an area where that is a possibility.
To dig a well that is around 100 feet deep costs an average of a couple of thousand dollars.
And if they don’t find any water, then you have to pay for them to drill again on another spot on your property.
Then add the cost of the casing and it can be a couple of thousand more.
And well water also means that you need a pump which will use electricity so you’ll need to have a system equipped for that.
Once you have the well, however, it costs far less to maintain the well than to pay a water bill every month.
Insurance
Many homeowners take it for granted that they will be able to get affordable and comprehensive insurance for their home.
But, this is a case that is really only applicable when you live close to many services.
When you are off grid, you are usually living someplace remote that makes it challenging to get aid when you need it.
It could be from flooding or fire, but whatever the emergency you are usually left out on your own.
Which means that there is more chance of extensive damage when you are off grid.
Because of this, many insurance companies are reluctant to insure a house or property that is off grid.
Many simply won’t offer any policies, and some of the ones that do will charge a high premium.
You’ll definitely need to shop around to find a good price that covers your needs.
Heating costs
People don’t realize just how cheap it is to heat a house when on the grid. The reality is that firewood is very expensive.
So when you are home a lot, you will be burning through cords of wood much faster than you thought.
Not only that, but chances are that in the wild, you will need to heat your house for longer periods of the year.
Urban settings are usually warmer than areas out in a forest or remote area.
Conclusion
There surely are ways to go about living off grid that will cost far less than a traditional house in the suburbs.
But, it does pay to be aware of what the real costs could be before getting started on your off grid adventure.
Most of the costs are upfront, so in the long run you’ll save money, but you may need more to get going than you had anticipated.
For most people, it isn’t about saving money, but enjoying the many benefits of living on their own terms.