Escape’s total is $62,710 for the unit, plus $4,800 for the solar package, $1,100 for the pure sine wave inverter, $1,700 for the composting toilet, $2,975 for the tank and pump, and $900 for the 10-gallon water heater. Escape’s off-grid page says you can order an inverter to run 120-volt items. A larger solar package, 1,280 watts and 400 Ah, adds $2,100. Escape states battery size in amp-hours and does not publish the voltage, so the capacity in kWh cannot be worked out from its pages. The options worksheet does not name a model, so ask Escape to confirm the options apply to the Vista Boho XL.
The Incredible Tiny Homes total is $39,900 for the unit, $17,900 for the small portable power unit, $2,500 for the compost toilet and water heater combination, and $2,500 for the water catchment. The maker’s $7,500 solar package is listed for its Incred-I-Box 2.0 and Woody models only, which is why the table uses the portable unit.
What Each Price Leaves Out
Delivery. Escape says delivery cost depends on location. Ecocapsule says its units can be shipped to any port or exact delivery location and asks buyers to contact sales for rates. Its pages do not mention US code certification, so ask before you order.
The ground and the hookups. Escape’s FAQ says, “You are responsible for site preparation and having utility hook-ups available.” It also recommends backup or grid power. OffGrid Cabins says finished units typically need a building permit. For what the foundation and site work cost, see the foundation and site prep guide.
The well. None of the 5 makers publishes a well or well-drilling price. A water tank still needs a well, rain catchment, or water delivery to fill it.
Septic. A composting toilet removes the toilet waste. It does not remove the water from the sink and shower, called graywater. Rules vary by state and county, and the 2 agency pages below show how much.
Composting Toilets Still Need a Septic Plan
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s composting toilet fact sheet (last updated July 27, 2017) says a plumbing permit is required to install one, and residential units must meet NSF International Standard 41. If you have no septic system, “you will need to be hooked up to an approved wastewater treatment system.” Because the toilet removes the toilet waste, the drainfield may be approved at as little as two-thirds the normal size.
Delta County, Colorado is stricter on the graywater. Its page says you must still have a permitted septic system, called an onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS), designed by a licensed engineer, and that graywater must go to a full-sized, permitted septic system.
Your county’s rule decides whether the composting toilet in your package saves you money on the septic system. Call the county environmental health office before you pay for the toilet.
Where to Start
Compare what each price includes. Ecocapsule’s €71,000 includes a battery, solar, water tanks, and heating. Escape’s $62,710 includes none of the off-grid items until you add $11,475 of options.
Ask for battery capacity in kWh. Only Ecocapsule states it in kWh. Escape states amp-hours without voltage, Incredible Tiny Homes states 24 volts without capacity, and Modern Tiny Living does not state it.
Get the heat source in writing. Escape names no heat source on the Vista Boho XL page, and OffGrid Cabins publishes none for the OGC 200. Ask for the heater and the fuel it uses.
Plan for a septic permit. Oregon and Delta County both require an approved system for the graywater, even with a composting toilet.
Before You Order
- Price the site work. Run the lot through the site-prep cost estimator. The well, septic, and access road are not in any price above.
- Confirm the loan. Start with the lender locator. Ask whether the lender finances a unit on a trailer or only a home on a foundation.
- Read the zoning and the septic rule. Use the zoning rules guide, then call the county about graywater before you order a composting toilet.
For the cost of each layer of a prefab project, see the cost of prefab homes. For makers that deliver a finished unit, see the 8 best prefab cabins, rated. Before you buy land with no utilities, read the raw land guide. For related comparisons, see prefab home foundation and site prep and prefab cabin kits.
Planning an off-grid rental? Book a free strategy call.
Host Camp is not a licensed tax, legal, or financial adviser. Confirm figures for your situation with a professional.
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