Unpopular opinion: coworking spaces are a total scam for most digital nomads

I spent 3 months bouncing between coworking spots in Chiang Mai and Barcelona thinking I needed that 'professional environment' to get work done. But after paying $250 a month for a desk where I still had to deal with loud zoom calls and bad wifi, I finally tried working from a quiet cafe with a good power bank setup. Turns out I saved about 60 hours of commute time and $800 total just by scouting local libraries and coffee shops with solid connections. The only thing coworking gave me was a fake sense of productivity because I felt like I was in an office. Has anyone else ditched coworking memberships for cheaper alternatives and actually gotten more done?

2 comments

2 Comments

jesse_nguyen8d ago

Libraries are the real hidden gem nobody talks about... quiet, free, and usually have way more reliable internet than those overpriced coworking spots. I spent a month in Lisbon testing both and the local public library had faster wifi and a better view than the $300 desk I tried first. Coworking spaces just make you feel like you're being productive because you're surrounded by other laptops, but honestly a decent cafe with a backup battery does the same thing for free. The whole "professional environment" thing is just marketing to make you feel guilty about not spending money...

taylorhunt8d ago

Man, @jesse_nguyen you hit on something I never thought about. Libraries always remind me of this one time I was parked outside a town in New Mexico and needed to print some paperwork for a load. The coworking space wanted $15 just to plug in my laptop. Walked into the local library and not only did they let me print for free, the librarian showed me where the best coffee spot was down the block. Quiet, no one trying to sell me a membership, and I got my stuff done in an hour. Libraries really are underrated for getting real work done without the hype.