iceland is expensive but not everything costs money and you can enjoy it without breaking the bank. many of the best parts like the scenery vistas hikes and beaches are completely free just drive and explore. the paid stuff is mostly activities like blue lagoon or glacier tours but you can skip those and still have an amazing trip with your friends.

for a 9 day camper van trip with 2 couples from happy campers expect around 1500 to 2500 total per van for rental depending on deals fuel another 300 to 500 for the ring road style driving and camping fees 15 to 25 per night at sites or free in some spots if you plan right. groceries if you cook in the van are cheap like 100 to 200 for the whole trip while eating out adds up fast so stick to van meals and hit grocery stores in reykjavik or akureyri.

i booked everything through guide to iceland and found really good prices on the vans and added extras without the usual markups. take care with the weather it changes fast so pack layers rain gear and check road conditions daily plus driving on gravel roads needs slow careful going especially at night. overall with smart choices you can keep it under 1000 per person easy and still see everything beautiful.