Living on a cruise ship full time is cheaper than a mortgage

Angelyn and Richard Burk didn’t downsize. They sailed off. Since 2021, the retired Seattle couple has lived full-time aboard cruise ships—trading property taxes and utility bills for buffet dinners, port views, and floating hotel rooms. They’re not influencers or trust fund travelers. They’re careful budgeters who discovered that, surprisingly, cruise life costs them less than their old mortgage.

Their story—first picked up by CNN, then spun into Reddit threads and global headlines—struck a nerve. Because while #VanLife romanticized freedom on four wheels, this feels like something else: a floating loophole in a world of housing pressure and digital escape fantasies.

On paper, the numbers tell the story. The Burks spend about $89 a day between the two of them. That includes lodging, meals, entertainment, and even transportation between countries. They pad their budget to $135/day for flexibility, but most days don’t require it. In total? About $32,000 a year for the both of them.

Compare that with the average Seattle mortgage—roughly $4,000 a month for a mid-priced home. Just the mortgage. No groceries, no car, no surprise roof repairs. So yes, cruise life is cheaper. But that’s not what makes this story scroll-stopping. What hits is the why.

This isn’t early retirement with a villa in Bali. This is structured, scheduled, loyalty-point-maximized freedom. The Burks stay on the same ship when possible. They plan routes by region to minimize flight costs. They avoid the casino and shop sparingly.

And they’re not alone. TikTok and Reddit are dotted with others testing this idea—digital nomads plotting hybrid cruise-remote work calendars, seniors swapping nursing home costs for Caribbean staterooms, even Gen Zers doing the math on “digital detox” via sea.

There’s a quiet rebellion here: against home ownership as a default goal, against the grind of stability, against staying put. Living on a cruise ship full time doesn’t work for everyone. You need flexibility. Wi-Fi. A tolerance for tiny rooms and endless buffet cycles. But most of all, you need to question the fixed idea of what “home” is supposed to be.

This isn’t just a housing hack. It’s a subtle cultural shift—trading square footage for movement, permanence for portability. And it’s not just retirees exploring it. With remote work, AI-driven side hustles, and spiraling housing costs, more people are asking: what do we actually need to feel secure, entertained, and free?

A front door and yard? Or a balcony that sails from Barcelona to Buenos Aires? Yes, there’s irony. Cruise ships are tightly controlled environments. But for some, that’s the appeal. Predictable costs. Built-in amenities. No landlord, no lawn, no leaky pipes.

In a world of inflation and burnout, control over your time—and your monthly budget—isn’t just practical. It’s psychological. For Angelyn and Richard Burk, the cruise ship isn’t a retirement splurge. It’s a new template. Not for everyone, maybe. But for anyone ready to measure home in horizons, not square feet.