This TikTok family turned a $3,700 bus into a 40-foot tiny home on wheels — and they say it’s cheaper than rent. But how much are they saving?

It’s not easy to buy a home right now, between tight inventory, high prices and elevated mortgage rates.

There’s currently an estimated shortage of about 4.7 million homes in America, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by Zillow, and this “remains the prime driver of the nation’s housing affordability crisis.” (1)

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Indeed, U.S. homes are at their least affordable level on record, according to CBRE Investment Management. (2)

So it’s no surprise there’s growing interest in tiny homes, which are often under 500 square feet. For instance, one couple — who shares their experiences on TikTok (3) and were recently profiled in The U.S. Sun — repurposed an old school bus into a tiny mobile home.

The rise of the tiny home

Megan and Landon Price, both 30-year-old professional photographers from Texas, met in college and married in 2016. In 2019, seeking a full-time travel lifestyle, they spent $3,700 on a 40-foot school bus and spent the following 18 months turning it into a tiny home.

The build-out involved raising the roof to provide roughly eight feet of standing height, creating a rooftop deck and adding a towing system capable of pulling their Ford F-150.

“This is literally the hardest and most rewarding thing that I think either of us have ever done outside of marriage and parenting,” Megan told The U.S. Sun. And it’s “still cheaper than rent,” Landon added. (4)

Inside, there’s a kitchen with a farmhouse sink, propane stove and oven, refrigerator, microwave and coffee area. The living room features air conditioning, a mounted TV and a sofa that converts into a bed. The master bedroom is at the back of the bus. There’s also a kid’s area with two bunks (and space to expand as they grow), as well as a laundry area, bathroom and a shower.

Throughout, smart storage solutions make efficient use of the small space. At the rear exterior, there’s even a “garage” with tools and storage. The bus features a 100-gallon water tank, onboard heating system and a solar system that provides about 800-amp hours of battery power and approximately 2,040 watts of solar.

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A cost comparison

The Prices estimate they’ve invested about $42,000 in their home on wheels, including roughly $8,400 to $10,500 to fix mechanical issues, according to The U.S. Sun. Because their home is mobile, they also spend money on gas: over the past three years, they’ve driven about 30,000 miles with their two children and their dog.

The bus averages around six miles per gallon (old school buses aren’t exactly energy efficient), so at an estimated average gas price of $3.41 during that period, the cost of being on the road has added at least $17,050 to their living expenses.

Put in perspective, this can seem like a steal for an ongoing journey on the open road given that a typical one-week vacation in the U.S. costs more than $2,000 per person, on average. (5)

Adding up the costs of refurbishment, maintenance and travel, the couple has spent less than $70,000 on their living space over the past three years — a significant savings compared with buying or renting a home and still taking an annual family vacation.

It’s hard to compare the cost of a tiny home with traditional homeownership as location, size, and financing play a major role. Overall, the median sales price of a house sold in the U.S. was $410,800 in Q2 2025. (6)

The median monthly cost for U.S. homeowners with a mortgage was $2,035 in 2024, while the median cost of rent and utilities was $1,487 (7) — figures that, excluding travel costs, are broadly comparable to the couple’s housing expenses.

In general, a do-it-yourself tiny home build can cost as little as $20,000, while a fully custom, professionally built tiny home can reach $150,000. (8) Over time, accounting for mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance, some estimates suggest you may save 50% to 70% compared with traditional ownership. (8)

Other costs to consider include land purchases or leasing community lots (leasing can range from $300 to $1,000 monthly), utility hookups and ongoing utility costs (or the cost of maintaining off-grid systems) and insurance. (8)

Even for those who don’t want to live in a tiny home full time, the cost advantage can make it an attractive short-term investment. The Prices told The U.S. Sun that they might consider listing their tiny home on Airbnb (4) — and their TikTok posts suggest that they’ve recently purchased a home and will be combining house and bus life.

A tiny home can be a good investment — provided you, your spouse, your kids and your pets are comfortable living in less than 500 square feet.

This TikTok family turned a $3,700 bus into a 40-foot tiny home on wheels — and they say it’s cheaper than rent. But how much are they saving?

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The rise of the tiny home

A cost comparison

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