Off Grid Homestead vs Tiny House: Which is Perfect for You?

You’ve decided you’re going off the grid. Maybe it’s going to be part time, weekends and summer vacations away from the city. Or maybe full time, all year round every season thrown at you, no matter the weather you’re ready to tackle it all. Either way, you’re going to do it. It’s high time to save money, no more utility bills and embrace the great adventure of man vs nature.

Ok, so now you’re asking yourself “Where the heck do I even get started?”. Before you put pen to paper, start looking at properties to scope out and Googling “what’s the best solar system for off grid living”… you need to think about whether you want a small simple off grid, self sufficient tiny home or something bigger with some room to roam, stretch your legs, and yet still be 100% off the grid like an off grid homestead. 

But what are the differences between these two lifestyles, and which one is best suited for your needs, preferences, and goals? In this article, we will compare and contrast off grid homesteading and tiny house living in terms of cost, space, comfort, and sustainability. We will also provide some guidance and advice on how to choose the best option for you. 

Let’s get started!

An image showing two contrasting alternative living options. On the left, a spacious and rustic off grid homestead with various features and facilities for self-reliance and sustainability. On the right, a minimalist and modern tiny house with limited space and amenities for mobility and flexibility.

Table of Contents

What is Off Grid Homesteading?

A happy smiling woman feeding her chickens and tiny pony on her homestead

An off grid homestead is a property where the home and outbuildings are not connected to utility services, such as water, gas, or electricity lines. This type of homestead relies on alternative sources of power, like solar, wind, or hydro power, and often has its own water source. Off grid homesteaders aim to be self-sufficient and sustainable, growing their own food, raising livestock, and producing their own energy. It can take many forms, from a small-scale garden with a few backyard chickens to a large farm with crops, livestock, and extensive renewable energy systems on hundreds of acres of land.

What is Tiny House Living?

Off Grid Living Solar Power Lights At The Off Grid Cabin

Tiny house living is a way of living that involves shedding your excess space and stuff, and living in a cozy, compact, and often custom designed home. Tiny houses are typically between 100 and 400 square feet, and can be built on wheels, trailers, or stationary foundations. Tiny house living represents a form of minimalism, as well as a way to save money, travel more, and live more intentionally and creatively. There needs to be a strong desire to live in a compact house. As an example, you might consider our off grid cabin is really more of an off grid tiny house. The off grid cabin just sounded a lot better than the off grid house when we first started building the cabin and our website.

The Off Grid Cabin Complete Build List and Materials Image

Cost: Which One is Cheaper?

An image comparing and contrasting off grid homesteading and tiny house living. On the left, a green and natural off grid homestead with a large cabin and several animals and plants. On the right, a gray and urban tiny house with a small trailer and a few accessories and decorations

One of the main reasons why people choose off grid homesteading or tiny house living is to save money and reduce their living expenses. Who doesn’t want to save more of that hard earned money. But which one is cheaper in the long run? Well, that answer depends on several factors, such as the size, location, design, and quality of your home, as well as the amount and type of resources you’ll need and use. You can have a low cost fully functioning homestead that costs less than the average tiny home. However, you can also own a cutting edge, high tech tiny home with all the bells and whistles that far out costs an average homestead. Ask yourself, are you building your off grid homestead or tiny home yourself? If so, this is a significant way to cut costs of either project. Maybe you’re lending a hand during the construction process to offset overall costs. We actually designed and built our entire off grid home ourselves in just two weeks

Initial Cost

The initial cost of building and setting up an off grid homestead or a tiny house can vary widely, depending on how much you do yourself, how much you hire professionals, and how much you buy new or used materials and equipment. According to some estimates, the average cost of building an off grid homestead is around $50,000, while the average cost of building a tiny house is around $25,000. However, these numbers can be higher or lower, depending on your choices and circumstances as we discussed. The initial cost of our 512 square foot home cost roughly $13, 653 in building materials. You can download a complete building materials list and cost breakdown here.

 

Ongoing Cost

The ongoing cost of maintaining and living in an off grid homestead or a tiny house can also vary widely, depending on how much you consume vs produce, and how much you pay for taxes, permits, insurance, and other fees. According to some estimates, the average annual cost of living in an off grid homestead is around $10,000, while the average annual cost of living in a tiny house is around $5,000. Again, these numbers can also be higher or lower, depending on your choices and circumstances. We found the yearly cost of our off grid home to be approximately $4000 including land taxes, Starlink internet, propane for heating and cooking, and some other consumables like ready made fire logs that we sometimes use, fuel for the ATV to plow the roads in winter, and the odd tool or off grid product to make life more enjoyable.