Hot take: coworking memberships are a waste for most nomads

I spent 6 months jumping between coworking spots in Medellin and Chiang Mai, dropping $200 a month on passes I barely used. The thing is, I'd get there, sit down, and realize I could do the same work from a quieter cafe or my hostel roof for free. So I tried something different last trip to Lisbon: I booked a coliving space with a solid common area and fast wifi included. It saved me $300 over 6 weeks, plus I actually met people instead of hiding in a booth. Now I only hit a coworking for one-off days when I really need a printer or a meeting room. Has anyone else found that coworking spots are more about the vibe than actual productivity?

2 comments

2 Comments

fiona9855h ago

Fully agree with you on this one. I blew like $250 on a WeWork pass in Mexico City and only used it maybe 10 times total. The wifi was good but the open floor plan was so loud I couldn't focus anyway. Ended up just working from a random cafe down the street that had free wifi and better coffee for the price of a latte. Coliving with a decent common area is the real hack, you get the social stuff without the extra bill. Last time in Bali I stayed at a place with a coworking desk included and it was seriously a game changer. Coworking memberships are basically paying for the aesthetic of being a digital nomad, not for actual work most days.

grace_campbell1h ago

It's funny how this same pattern shows up everywhere, not just with coworking spaces. People buy gym memberships they barely use or sign up for fancy apps they forget about after a week, all because the idea of being that kind of person feels good. Coworking spaces sell you the dream of being a productive nomad with a routine, but the reality is most of us just need a decent table and quiet enough air. The real trick is figuring out what you actually need versus what just sounds nice to pay for. Once you see that pattern, you start saving money on a whole lot of stuff, not just desk rentals.