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Yurt vs Tiny House – Which is Better in 2024?

Yurts and tiny homes are increasingly appealing to people looking to downsize their homes.

And guess what?

These two housing oppositions provide tiny house lovers with an opportunity to significantly minimize the cost of their living.

More so, these housing options require little maintenance.

For those reading this because they plan to downsize their lives but don’t know which housing option is best for them, you’re welcome to read further as today’s post has everything you need to know about yurts vs.

tiny homes.

While yurts have become incredibly popular in the last couple of years and for good reasons, tiny houses are also generating a buzz.

But here is the catch, yurts have proven to be more affordable and easier to build than tiny homes.

Plus, they provide a lot more space than tiny homes.

On the flip side, tiny homes, especially those on wheels, are easy to move and last longer, with little maintenance.

Unfortunately, they are more expensive to buy or build.

Let’s take you through some advantages and disadvantages of traditional yurts and mobile homes.

Hopefully, this should help you make an informed decision.

Tiny house vs Yurts Price

Several factors, including size and quality of materials used to build a permanent structure, yurts, tiny homes, or a traditional home, can impact the pricing of any home.

So when it comes to the pricing of tiny houses and yurts, these factors play a significant role.

In terms of pricing, you should expect to pay between $12,000 to an excess of $30,000 for a medium-to-large size yurt, especially one that measures 20+ square feet.

For the high-end yurts, you get a large and fully insulated yurt.

Plus, you can expect the structure to be built from quality materials with lots of exquisite craftsmanship and detailing.

For those looking to save some bucks, you can decide to build your dream yurt from scratch.

But let us warn you, though, this can be pretty time-consuming and require special skills.

On the flip side, the pricing of tiny homes varies a great deal from that of yurts.

And if you’re pretty skilled and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can simply source cheap or free building materials and build your container home.

Going this route will allow you to build your tiny home with little to no cost, besides the time put into building it.

In terms of pricing, the average cost of tiny homes is pegged between $30,000 to $60,000.

And you’ll agree that this is much less than you’ll pay for a traditional home.

Similarly, a newly fabricated tiny house structure starts from $50,000 and could go as high as $150,000.

Is size critical to you?

Many benefits come with living in a small home, especially one with a small space.

While it is cheaper to heat, it also requires less maintenance and cleaning.

But, even though downsizing has been appealing to many people lately, not everyone is interested in living their lives in a small space with a couple of hundred square feet.

Some people need larger spaces for their family, business, and hobbies.

With yurts, you have a much larger space than you’ll ever get with a tiny home, and that’s because yurts typically measure 706 square feet.

Some modern yurt builders offer larger models, even though these aren’t very popular.

To be honest with you, the most realistic modern yurts measure 1963 square feet or 50 feet in diameter.

With tiny homes, there are a lot of arguments and disagreements on what constitutes a tiny house.

Nevertheless, the International Residential Code categorically defines tiny homes as a structure with 400 square feet or less floor space, which doesn’t include the loft.

That said, let us also add that tiny homes on wheels are typically half that size because of the trailer size limitations.

The Moving Process With Tiny house And Yurts

While most people’s reason for downsizing their home is cutting down costs and saving money, for many others, it is the freedom that comes with tiny living that appeals to them the most.

For tiny house enthusiasts, freedom is the ability to move their homes whenever they feel like it.

This is one of the primary reasons people decide to live out their lives in a tiny house or yurt, as both housing options are super easy to transport.

Tiny homes built on wheels or trailers provide the most flexibility.

Besides being incredibly easy to connect to a truck within a couple of minutes and towed to your preferred location, you can also easily park your home in designated spots built to house tiny houses on wheels.

For those who desire to move their home quickly, you’re better off with a tiny house on wheels.

On the other hand, yurts are more time demanding to move.

Some models that feature glass pane windows and heavy utilities are challenging to disassemble and transport.

That said, a traditional yurt, especially one that features a few modern luxuries, can easily be disassembled and put together.

Unfortunately, this would mean packing the yurt along with all your things during every relocation.

The building process With Yurt And Tiny House

We love that yurts are pretty easy and quick to build.

And as we mentioned earlier, building a small and simple yurt should only take a couple of hours.

However, if you want a yurt with modern features like glass windows or a yurt with a vast space, you’ll have to wait a while as this type of structure will take some time to build.

Nonetheless, yurts are still among the easiest and fastest structures to build.

Building a tiny home is more challenging and time-consuming than building a yurt.

And just so you know, building a tiny solid house requires a lot of planning.

Plus, you’ll need to have some skill set like carpentry to handle the project from start to finish.

And if you intend to build a tiny house on wheels, you’ll need to have strong welding skills in order to attach your home safely to the trailer.

Lifespan and durability

To be honest, tiny homes and yurts are solid and built to last long.

With necessary maintenance, they should stand firm and last for many years.

If correctly built, especially using quality materials, a tiny house should last several decades.

That said, you should keep in mind that the trailer used to move your tiny home will not last as long as your home.

When building your tiny home, it will be a smart move to build one that can easily be lifted from an older trailer to a new one.

Also, expect to do the same maintenance you typically do in a traditional home.

Like tiny homes, a yurt can last for several decades with little maintenance.

However, the exterior, which usually features a fabric cover, is very likely to get damaged and may need to be replaced after some time.

That said, a quality cover should last for between 15 to 20 years, at which point you may need to replace it.

Also, the top of the dome lasts between 15 to 20 years, after which you will have to replace it.

Permit process for Yurts & Tiny House

Before putting your tiny home on your land, you’ll need to know the relevant zoning and building regulations in your state.

And just so you know, zoning and building regulations vary from state to state.

As per tiny house building requirements, a small home should feature a full bathroom.

Plus, the ceiling height of the bathroom should be at least 6’4.” Similarly, tiny houses are expected to have a stair or ladder.

Also, there should be room for one emergency window.

Overall, your tiny home must comply with all the requirements outlined by the International Residential Code.

To be up to date on what you can and can’t have in your tiny home, please consult with local authorities because small house rules can vary from county to county.

On the flip side, even though yurts do not have any special requirements as per ceiling dome height or width, they are expected to meet all the relevant building and energy codes requirements.

For instance, the yurt exterior should be robust and stand firm for at least 14 minutes in 140 degrees Fahrenheit fire and during construction.

While a yurt should have less energy wastage, all appliances within the home are expected to be energy efficient.

And just like tiny homes, you’ll need to state categorically whether your yurt is a temporary or permanent residence.

Here is a bit of clarification to that effect.

A temporary yurt is seen as a regular tent and doesn’t always require permits as it will most likely be used for camping for a couple of days or weeks.

However, a permanent structure typically requires a permit.

Based on the current situation, the only thing we can guarantee is that the permit process for tiny homes is a lot easier than yurts.

The permit process of yurts is even more challenging when building the structure in populated and developed regions.

So if you must build yurts without any issues, it is best to do it in remote areas.

With tiny homes, you can build your structure in populated cities.

All you need to do is follow all the relevant building codes.

For tiny houses on wheels, you won’t have any issues with the authorities provided your home complies with RV rules.

What should I get, a tiny house or a yurt?

To be honest, both tiny homes and yurts will make a decent housing option if you’re looking to downsize.

And yes, they are more affordable than traditional homes and quicker to construct.

Plus, these housing options appeal to people looking for affordable housing.

Here are a few advantages of both housing options.

Pros

  • They are affordable
  • Easy to set up
  • Offer a larger floor space

Cons

  • They are easy to move
  • Require less maintenance

Suppose you are going to be moving around a lot, then it’s best to opt for a tiny house.

Having a home, you can seamlessly hook to your tow truck makes moving easier.

On the other hand, a yurt is an excellent option for people interested in settling down in one place for a long time.

Also, this housing option is perfect if you’re interested in something that provides more space than you’ll ever get in a tiny house on wheels.

With a larger yurt, you can comfortably accommodate several people.

Also, yurts are a lot more affordable as you can get a high-end yurt for the cost of a cheap tiny house.

Frequently asked questions

Is a yurt more affordable than a tiny home?

A yurt is a lot more affordable than your average tiny home when it comes to pricing.

You can expect to pay between $12,000 to $30,000 for a medium to large size yurt in terms of cost.

On the flip side, a tiny house costs $30,000 to $60,000.

So yes, a yurt is more affordable than a tiny home.

Do you need permits for yurts?

Even though you don’t typically require permits for yurts, a yurt is expected to comply with building and energy codes requirements.

Also, you’ll need to state if you plan to use your yurt as a temporary or permanent residence.

Suppose you plan to use your yurt as a permanent residence; it’s best to consult with local authorities to know if that’s possible.

Do I need a permit to live in a tiny home?

Tiny homes must comply with zoning and building code requirements.

And this varies from county to county.

So before you even start building your tiny house structure, speak to the relevant authorities, so you don’t have any issues down the road.