California man who's spent the last two years living rent-free in his Tesla breaks down how much it's cost him to live in it
Published on Sep 23, 2026 at 12:04 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Sep 23, 2026 at 12:04 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This former Tesla employee has been living in his Tesla Model X in California for a couple of years, saving a fortune in the process.
He’s obviously adopted a lifestyle that’s certainly not for everyone, but it’s working for him.
Partly because he enjoys it.
But also because of the incredible amount of money he’s saved.
It all started with a couple of things that happened to him
This YouTuber – Nico Murillo – has been living in his Tesla Model X for two years.
The Model X is great option for this, by the way.
It’s large, it has seven seats, and it can be equipped with Camp Mode, which is a a built-in vehicle setting that maintains cabin temperature, airflow, and power to USB and 12V outlets overnight while you sleep inside the car.
When Nico, a former Tesla supervisor working at Tesla Fremont in California, was let go overnight in 2024, he made two decisions.
One was inevitable, and the second one was a consequence of the first.
First, he decided to sell his $1.2 million, which he could no longer afford; and second, he decided to save the money he’d made from selling the house and build a YouTuber career.
Nico has been using 24-hour gym memberships for showers and bathrooms, and overnight parking is split between quiet residential neighborhoods, 24-hour gym lots, truck stops, and rest stops.
“When I saw rent in California, electricity, gas, water, garbage eliminated, and also got rid of my car note… I started saving, get this, $1,500 per month just on a regular GNC job,” he said in the video.
After sharing how much he’s been saving living in his car, he decided to answer the second-most asked question: how much does this actually cost?
Living in a Tesla Model X is cheaper than living in a home, but…
One of the biggest and most obvious financial drawbacks is the budget for food.
If you live in a home, you can buy groceries ahead of time, prepare your own food, and save money.
Living in a car, you can’t really do that, which means you end up eating out more often.
Even so, Nico said he’s been able to keep that budget under $800, which is not too bad in California.
In terms of fixed expenses – health and car insurance, gym memberships, phone plan with hotspot and so on – he said he’s been spending around $720 per month.
Gym membership, in his view, is one of the most important things.
“Hygiene is very important when you’re living in a car,” he pointed out, because it realistically means using the gym multiple times per day every day.
All in all, the monthly budget is around $2,200.
And that’s including everything.
It’s still not for everyone but hey, if he’s happy, we’re happy.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
