Coworking can give digital nomads a desk, a routine and a way to meet people, but only if the space fits how you work and how much company you want. A quiet floor of headphones will not fix loneliness, and a lively community space may be hard to focus in. This guide explains what coworking offers, how to test a space before paying for a month, what to ask the operator and where else to find community when a desk is not enough.
This is general information. Prices, opening hours and contract terms differ by space and change often, so we do not list venues or fees. Check the terms of any space you plan to join.
The short version
- Test a space with a day or week pass before you commit to a month, if the space offers one.
- Visit at the hours you will actually work. A space that feels social at noon can be empty at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m.
- Ask about community events, quiet areas, call rooms, the cancellation rule and what happens if the internet fails.
- Treat the desk as one part of a social routine. Repeating activities such as language exchanges, sports and classes do more for connection than a membership alone.
Why a shared space can help
Remote work removes the office, and moving often removes friends and routines too. A 2017 paper in the journal Organization Studies by Gregory Garrett, Gretchen Spreitzer and Peter Bacevice looked at how a sense of community forms in a coworking space. It was a qualitative study of one space, so it describes how things happened there and does not show that every space works the same way. The authors identified three kinds of shared action that built community: endorsing, encountering and engaging. They also reported that a loose, flexible structure let members take part as much or as little as they wanted.
For you, the practical lesson is to look for a space where meeting people is easy but optional. We read the paper through a university summary, because the full text was not available to us, so treat it as one study and not a rule.
Coworking, cafés or coliving?
| Option | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Coworking space | A fixed desk, reliable internet, call rooms and a regular crowd | Membership terms and noise levels vary. Some spaces are mostly silent |
| Café | Flexibility and low commitment | Weak ergonomics, patchy power and Wi-Fi, little chance of meeting the same people twice |
| Coliving | Housing and community in one booking | Contracts and house rules matter. See our coliving checklist |
| Home desk | Quiet and focus | Isolation if it is your only setting. Our ergonomic setup guide helps |
Many nomads mix these. A common pattern is a home desk for deep work and a shared space two or three days a week for calls and company.
How to test a coworking space
Operator guides we read describe day or week passes as a common way to try a space without a long commitment. Not every space offers them, so ask. Then use the trial like a small experiment.
- Go at your real working hours. If you work US hours from Europe, see our time zone guide, and check that the space is open and staffed late.
- Run your own speed and call test. Join a video call from the space and test upload speed during the busiest hour.
- Check the chair and desk. A bad chair costs you more than a few euros of membership. Stay two hours and notice your neck and back.
- Look at who is there. Freelancers, remote employees, local founders and other nomads create different atmospheres. Pick the one you want.
- Notice whether people talk. Some spaces have a kitchen or lounge where conversation happens. Others discourage it.
Questions to ask before you pay
- Is the desk fixed or hot, and is there lockable storage?
- Are there call rooms, and do they need a booking?
- What are the access hours, including weekends and holidays?
- What does the internet backup look like if the main line drops?
- Is there a deposit, and how do you cancel or pause a membership? Get the answer in writing.
- Does the space run regular events, and are they open to members who do not want to network?
- What currency and payment methods does the operator use? If the terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, think twice before accepting.
Community beyond the desk
A coworking membership gives you proximity. Friendship usually needs repeated contact over weeks. Operator guides often point to meetup listings for nomad and professional events, and to coliving or coworking hybrids where people also share meals. These are leads to test, not guarantees.
Activities with a fixed weekly time tend to work better than one-off events, because you see the same faces: a language exchange, a climbing gym, a running group, a class. Our guides to digital nomad loneliness and making friends while traveling solo go deeper on this, and slow travel explains why staying longer in one place helps.
When coworking is not the answer
If you feel persistently low, flat or anxious, a better desk will not solve it. Read our guide to burnout and mental health and consider talking to a professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is coworking worth it for digital nomads?
It depends on your work and how much you value company. It can help if your accommodation lacks a good desk or you want a routine and people nearby. If you work in short bursts and prefer cafés, it may not earn its cost. Test with a day pass if one exists.
How do I find a coworking space in a new city?
Search the city name with “coworking”, read recent reviews and look at photos taken by visitors. Then visit two or three in person at your working hours. We do not list spaces because prices and quality change.
Can I make friends in a coworking space?
Many people do, usually after seeing the same members over several weeks. Spaces with a shared kitchen, lounge or regular events make it easier. A single case study of one space found that community grew through everyday encounters and that flexible involvement suited members.
Should I book a month or a day pass first?
Start with the shortest pass offered. If you decide to stay, ask whether the operator will credit the trial against a longer membership and how you can cancel.
What if I am lonely even with a coworking membership?
Add repeating activities outside work, stay in one base longer and tell someone how you feel. If low mood lasts for weeks or affects your sleep, work or appetite, speak to a health professional.
Sources
- Garrett, L. E., Spreitzer, G. M. and Bacevice, P. A., “Co-constructing a Sense of Community at Work: The Emergence of Community in Coworking Spaces”, Organization Studies, 2017. Read through the University of Michigan Center for Positive Organizations summary: positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu. Accessed October 2026. The full paper was not available to us.
- Operator and vendor guides on day passes and community (Nomad Stays, Outsite, Cobot). These are commercial pages and are used only as leads, not as evidence. Accessed October 2026.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Coworking prices, passes and terms vary by space and change often. This article is general information, not professional or medical advice.
