US couple who have committed to living on a cruise ship for 15 years share how much it costs compared to living in the average US household

An American couple who have committed to living on a cruise ship for 15 years have revealed the cost behind their lifestyle.

Lanette and Johan traded a traditional life on land for a residential cruise heading around the world.

It sounds idyllic on the face of it, but how much does this cost them?

And how does it compare to the average costs that come with living in a standard US household?

Is living on a cruise ship all it’s cracked up to be?

Lanette and Johan run the aptly named channel Living Life on a Cruise, in which they dispense advice on the unorthodox living arrangement.

In a recent video, they revealed the costs that come with a life out on the high seas.

When they signed up for their life on a cruise ship, they secured lower rates than what is currently on offer.

At this point in time, a smaller cabin purchase would set you back $130,000, with monthly maintenance fees coming out at $4,000 for a couple and $3,000 for a solo traveler.

Johan cautioned viewers that the purchase of the cabin wasn’t like a standard real-estate investment.

“This is definitely not an investment. It’s an investment in a lifestyle and experiences. That’s what it is,” Johan said.

“Because if we bought our cabin, it’s not like buying a condo. We know that in 15 to 20 years, the ship might be scrapped and that’s it.”

Johan and Lanette estimated that they spend around $5,150 a month, once personal extras were taken into account.

There’s a lot of figures there, so let’s break down what each of them mean in a bit more detail.

What falls under a maintenance fee?

The $4,000 maintenance fee covers the majority of Johan and Lanette’s day-to-day living expenses.

That includes three meals a day, plus complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner.

Housekeeping and laundry also fall under the umbrella, as does high-speed internet and access to a gym, fitness classes, and onboard entertainment.

Taking out-of-pocket expenses into account

All in all, the couple spend around $100 a month on US Mobile, while also paying out for Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Travel insurance sets them back around $400 a month.

A budget of $500 is set aside each month to cover exploring ports upon which they dock at.

Lanette sets aside $50 a month for services at an onboard hair salon, while her husband opts for cheap haircuts at ports.

Does living on a cruise ship come out cheaper than living on land?

When all is said and done, is the cruise ship lifestyle kinder on the bank account than a life on land?

The couple estimated that they were now spending a lot less money.

For one thing, they don’t pay for any cars now, whereas before they had 31 vehicles to account for due to their rental business.

Gas, property taxes, utilities, and home repairs are all now things of the past.

However, some surprise costs do creep in like international visas and visitor fees.

They estimated they were spending more than $8,000 a month when they were living in Hawaii.

With the average household expenditure in the US coming it at around $6,500 a month, they noted that life on a cruise ship was notably cheaper.

Living on a cruise ship seems to be a growing trend

It’s not just Johan and Lanette who have decided land life isn’t for them.

In fact, there’s a growing swathe of people who have taken to the internet to share their cruise ship experiences.

One woman has gone into the ins and outs of her lifestyle, breaking down her monthly bills.

And all of this could soon pale in comparison to the $16 billion floating city that has been proposed.

Could living on land soon become unfashionable? Only time will tell.