The costs of living on a narrowboat

From our Guide to living on a narrowboat

Two people shake hands in front of a building with a

How much does it really cost to live on a narrowboat?

Boat life is often cheaper than a house – but that depends on your setup and expectations!

To give you a flavour for the costs of living aboard and whether it’s affordable for you, take a look at these costs that you might typically expect to incur on an annual basis.

Example liveaboard costs

All costs are approximate and vary depending on many factors.

Licence: £1,000 – £1,500/year (Canal & River Trust).
Insurance: £200 – £500/year.
Fuel (diesel, coal, wood): £800 – £1500/year.
Gas bottles: £35 – £50 each (every 2-3 months).
Maintenance & repairs: ~ This is hard to put a number on as it depends on so many factors, but for essential maintenance £1,000 – £3,000/year. Older boats will require more maintenance.
Mooring: from £1,500 up to £10,000/year.
Blacking (every 2 – 3 years): £800 – £2,000.

Cartoon of a couple holding hands, discussing festive activities and living comfortably on £15 a day by budgeting.

Back to contents Next: Choosing your first boat

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