Coworking Space Guide: Making the Most of Your Nomad Office

At first, I thought coworking space fees were a waste. "Why pay when I can just order a coffee at a café?" But after working in cafés for a month, I changed my mind. Slow WiFi, worrying about outlet etiquette, losing my seat at lunch... I eventually signed up for a coworking, and my productivity jumped significantly.

The Real Reasons Coworking is Great

Fast, stable internet is a given. Most have 100+ Mbps with backup lines. No worrying about disconnections during important video calls.

But the bigger reason I love coworking is that it creates a "commute." That 10-minute walk from accommodation to coworking feels like flipping a switch. When I arrive, I naturally enter work mode. Working from accommodation removes this boundary, leaving you in a half-working state all day.

Meeting people matters too. Nomad life can be lonely, but coworking has similar people around. Chat naturally over coffee and become friends, or make professional connections. I even collaborated on a project with a German developer I met at Punspace in Chiang Mai.

How to Pick a Good Coworking

Not all coworkings are great. I've been to several, and the differences were huge.

First thing I check is internet speed. Googling "[city] coworking space review" usually shows internet speed info. Need at least 50Mbps, and check upload speed too. Upload matters if you have lots of video calls.

Next is atmosphere. Some coworkings are buzzing like startup offices, others are library-quiet. I prefer moderate background noise, so I avoid places that are too silent. If possible, try a day pass before signing up.

Location matters too. If it's too far from accommodation, commuting becomes annoying and you stop going. Within 15 minutes walking is ideal. Check if there are places to eat nearby too.

Pricing and Saving Money

Coworking prices vary wildly by city. In Chiang Mai, $100/month gets you somewhere nice, but Lisbon can be over €300. London or New York can exceed $500.

Some tips for saving money: Monthly plans are much cheaper than daily. If you're staying a month, always get monthly. There are also afternoon/evening-only memberships, good for people who work at cafés in the morning and coworking in the afternoon.

For long-term use, you can negotiate. Ask "Is there a discount for a 3-month contract?" and surprisingly many places will offer one. For free alternatives, there are libraries. If internet speed is decent, libraries are the quietest.

Using Networking

Most coworkings host events. Lunch meetups, happy hours, skill-sharing sessions. It felt awkward to join at first, but once I went, everyone was in the same boat, so it was comfortable.

You don't even need to attend events. Just say hi to someone while getting coffee in the shared kitchen. "Where are you from?", "What do you do?" is enough to start a conversation. Most nomads enjoy meeting new people.

Coworking Etiquette

There are some basic etiquette rules. Take phone calls in designated areas. Most have phone booths. Same for video calls. Food should be non-smelly. Best to skip the kimchi stew.

Seat-hogging is also an issue. Even with hot desks (free seating), leaving your bag and disappearing for half a day is frowned upon. When leaving for long, pack up your stuff or tell the staff.

Conclusion

Coworking costs maybe $80-250 a month, but I think it's worth more than that. Productivity goes up, you meet people, and you get boundaries between work and life. Considering the stress of bouncing between cafés, it's actually cheap.