You need to get fulltimer's insurance, not just RV insurance. It includes the sort of liability insurance that usually comes with homeowner's or renter's insurance. And be mindful of how much personal property is covered. It adds up really fast, and there are limits on individual items (the personal property coverage on my policy doesn't cover anything that is worth over $500, and it's not that they won't pay anything over $500--that item simply isn't included and has to be insured separately, which isn't expensive but a trap for the unwary).
There are only a few companies that offer fulltimer's, and it depends on what state the RV is registered in. Miller Insurance in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a popular broker, although I left after two separate pretty bad customer service incidents. Geico and Progressive offer fulltimer's insurance. I'm currently using Thum Insurance, with a policy by Blue Sky. So far all they've done is take my money and issue my policy and all if good (but that's really all I was wanting from Miller, come to think of it, and they fell short).
I would guess that you're more in the $100-$200/month than $500/month territory, but it definitely varies. As far as I know, the insurance on the RV itself is based on the value of the RV, but I can't say for sure. I do know that when the value of my RV went down due to depreciation, my premium went down.
I've been fulltiming since 2003 and spent two winters in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, the temperatures don't dip very low in the winter, but they never get very high, and you don't get any warming from the sun. (I've also spent winters in Denver, and even when it was in the 40s outside, I'd have to open the windows because it got so hot in here from the sun beating on the windshield of my motorhome--that never happened in Portland or Seattle.)
I have a 40-foot motorhome with allegedly good insulation and double-pane windows and I don't think it ever felt cozy in the winter up there. When I'd run the propane furnace, I'd get a blast of hot air, and when it cycled off, it would be drafty within minutes. For that reason, I prefer using several small electric heaters, but it adds up quickly if you're paying for electricity. (And I'd have to make sure to have one near the water pump and water lines in the basement if it was going to be below freezing for any length of time.)
I can't believe that it will be any better in a travel trailer.
The good news is that in Washington, especially, electricity is relatively cheap per kilowatt hour. But you'll be using a lot of those kwhs--way more than in an apartment or possibly even a house. I'm serious.
And I agree with others who cautioned about relying on an RV park's wifi if you're using it for work. If you're staying long term, the park might have it set up so you can get your own connection, but of course you'll have to pay for it.
I don't know...between the increased electricity costs that come with living in a travel trailer and the additional insurance, and accounting for possible repairs to the trailer you'll have to pay for, you're getting on up there toward what it would cost you to live in a 1-bedroom apartment. Since you're staying put for a while anyway, I think it's a pretty close call.
