Why Coworking Spaces Are a Game Changer for Digital Nomads
If you have ever tried to run an ecommerce business from a coffee shop in Bali or a hotel room in Lisbon, you know the struggle. The wifi cuts out during a supplier call, the chair destroys your back after two hours, and there is no quiet space when you need to hop on a video meeting with a client. That is exactly why coworking spaces have become essential infrastructure for digital nomads and remote business owners.
I have been working remotely from cities around the world for over a decade now, and finding the right workspace in each location has been one of the biggest factors in my productivity. A good coworking space gives you reliable high-speed internet, a professional environment for calls and meetings, a community of other entrepreneurs and remote workers, and the structure that keeps you from falling into the “working from bed in pajamas” trap that kills productivity.
In this guide, I am going to break down the best coworking spaces and coworking networks available to digital nomads in 2026, how to evaluate a space before you commit, and how to set up your high-ticket dropshipping business to run smoothly from any coworking space in the world. Whether you are a full-time nomad hopping between cities or someone who just relocated abroad and needs a workspace, this guide has you covered.
What to Look for in a Coworking Space as a Digital Nomad
Not all coworking spaces are created equal, and what works for a local freelancer might not work for someone running an international ecommerce operation. Here are the factors that matter most when you are evaluating a coworking space as a nomad business owner.
Internet Speed and Reliability
This is non-negotiable. You need consistent upload and download speeds that can handle video calls, large file transfers, and cloud-based business tools running simultaneously. Look for spaces that advertise at least 100 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload. More importantly, ask about reliability. A space that advertises gigabit speeds but drops the connection every 30 minutes is worse than one with 50 Mbps that never goes down.
Most reputable coworking spaces have backup internet connections that kick in automatically if the primary line goes down. Ask about this before you sign up. If you are managing a high-ticket dropshipping store where a single customer order might be worth $2,000 or more, you cannot afford to lose connectivity during a sales call or while processing orders.
Meeting Rooms and Phone Booths
Open floor plans are great for casual work, but when you need to take a call with a supplier, negotiate with a manufacturer, or do a coaching session with a client, you need private space. The best coworking spaces offer bookable meeting rooms and soundproof phone booths included in your membership or available for a small add-on fee.
Check the booking system before you commit. Some spaces have meeting rooms that are always booked solid during peak hours, which defeats the purpose. A good ratio is at least one meeting room per 20 to 25 members and at least one phone booth per 10 to 15 members.
Community and Networking
One of the underrated benefits of coworking spaces is the community. When you are a digital nomad, it is easy to feel isolated. A coworking space with regular events, workshops, and a genuine community of other entrepreneurs gives you a built-in network in every city. Some of my best business partnerships and client referrals have come from casual conversations in coworking spaces.
Flexible Membership Options
As a nomad, you need flexibility. Look for spaces that offer day passes, weekly passes, and month-to-month memberships without long-term contracts. Some spaces also offer “hot desk” plans (use any available desk) versus “dedicated desk” plans (your own assigned workspace). Hot desks are usually cheaper and perfect for nomads who are only in a city for a few weeks.
Best Global Coworking Networks for Digital Nomads
If you move between cities frequently, joining a global coworking network gives you access to workspaces in multiple locations under one membership. Here are the networks that offer the best value and coverage for nomad entrepreneurs.
WeWork
According to WeWork’s location directory, they remain the largest global coworking network with over 700 locations across 150+ cities in 38 countries. Their All Access membership lets you use any WeWork location worldwide, which is incredibly convenient for nomads. The spaces are consistently well-designed with reliable internet, meeting rooms, phone booths, printing, and free coffee and water.
The main downside is price. WeWork All Access runs around $299 to $450 per month depending on your market, which puts it on the premium end. But if you value consistency and knowing exactly what you will get in every city, it is hard to beat. Their app makes it easy to book desks, meeting rooms, and check in at new locations.
Selina CoWork
Selina combines coworking with coliving, making it a natural fit for digital nomads. They operate in 20+ countries, primarily in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Their coworking spaces are typically inside Selina hotels, so you can book accommodation and a workspace in the same building. Memberships start around $100 to $200 per month depending on the location.
The vibe at Selina is more social and community-oriented than a corporate coworking space. They run regular events, surf trips, yoga sessions, and networking meetups. If you are the kind of nomad who wants to blend work and lifestyle, Selina nails that balance. The tradeoff is that some locations can feel more hostel than office, so it depends on your work style.
Impact Hub
Impact Hub has over 100 locations in 60+ countries and focuses on social entrepreneurship and impact-driven businesses. The membership community tends to be more purpose-driven than your average coworking space, which can be refreshing. Their spaces are well-equipped with meeting rooms, event spaces, and strong wifi.
What sets Impact Hub apart is their global passport program, which gives members access to any Impact Hub worldwide at discounted rates. If your business has a social impact component or you enjoy being around mission-driven entrepreneurs, this network is worth checking out.
Hubud (Bali)
Hubud in Ubud, Bali is legendary in the digital nomad community. It is not a global network but a single location that has become a pilgrimage site for nomad entrepreneurs. The bamboo open-air design, the community events, and the concentration of talented entrepreneurs make it one of the most inspiring places to work in the world.
Memberships start around $15 to $20 per day or $150 to $200 per month. The internet is solid (they know their audience needs reliable connectivity), and they run regular workshops, skill-shares, and community dinners. If Bali is on your nomad itinerary, Hubud should be your first stop.
KoHub (Thailand)
KoHub on Koh Lanta, Thailand combines coworking with coliving on a beautiful island. It is smaller and more intimate than the big networks, with a strong community feel. The space has reliable fiber internet, air conditioning, standing desks, and a pool where you can take breaks between work sessions.
Thailand in general is one of the best countries for American expats thanks to the low cost of living, excellent infrastructure, and welcoming nomad community. A month at KoHub including coworking runs around $500 to $800 with accommodation, which is hard to beat anywhere in the world.
Best Cities for Coworking as a Digital Nomad
Some cities have built entire ecosystems around digital nomads and remote workers. The combination of affordable cost of living, excellent coworking infrastructure, reliable internet, and vibrant nomad communities makes these cities stand out.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon has emerged as one of Europe’s top digital nomad hubs with dozens of coworking spaces scattered across the city. Popular options include Second Home, Outsite, and Heden. The city offers a digital nomad visa, excellent food, moderate cost of living by European standards, and a growing tech startup scene. Coworking memberships range from 150 to 300 euros per month.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is the OG digital nomad city and still one of the best. Punspace, CAMP at Maya Mall, and Yellow Coworking are long-established favorites. The cost of living is incredibly low (you can live well on $1,000 to $1,500 per month total), the food is amazing, and the nomad community is deep. Coworking memberships start as low as $50 to $100 per month.
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City has exploded as a nomad destination with neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, and Coyoacan packed with coworking options. WeWork has multiple locations here, and independent spaces like Centraal, Homework, and Public are excellent. The time zone alignment with US clients makes it especially attractive for ecommerce operators selling to American customers. Coworking runs $100 to $250 per month.
Medellin, Colombia
Medellin offers perfect weather year-round, a booming startup scene, and coworking spaces like Selina, WeWork, and Tinkko. The cost of living compared to the US is dramatically lower, and Colombia’s digital nomad visa makes it easy to stay long-term. Coworking memberships range from $80 to $200 per month.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is one of Europe’s most affordable capital cities with excellent coworking infrastructure. Spaces like Kaptar, Impact Hub Budapest, and Mosaik offer strong communities and reliable workspaces. Memberships run 80 to 180 euros per month, and the city’s central European location makes it easy to travel throughout the continent.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgia’s “Remotely from Georgia” program made it one of the easiest countries for nomads to relocate to. Tbilisi has a growing coworking scene with spaces like Impact Hub Tbilisi and Terminal. The cost of living is extremely low, the food and wine are incredible, and the country has no income tax on foreign-sourced income for the first year. This makes it one of the best affordable destinations for nomad entrepreneurs.
How to Set Up Your Ecommerce Business for Coworking
Running an ecommerce operation from coworking spaces requires some specific setup to ensure everything runs smoothly regardless of where you are working from on any given day.
Go 100% Cloud-Based
Every tool, file, and system your business relies on should be accessible from any device with an internet connection. This means using cloud-based ecommerce platforms like Shopify for your store, cloud accounting software for your books, and cloud storage for all business documents.
Keep your entire business toolkit in Google Workspace so you have email, documents, spreadsheets, and file storage all in one place that is accessible from any coworking space computer or your own laptop. This setup means you can walk into any coworking space in the world, connect to wifi, and be fully operational in minutes.
Automate Customer Communication
When you are changing time zones and workspaces regularly, you need automated systems handling customer inquiries during the hours you are not actively at your desk. Set up automated email responses, a comprehensive FAQ page, and a live chat tool like Tidio on your store that can handle common questions with chatbot flows while routing complex issues to you or your team.
If you have a virtual assistant handling customer service, make sure they have clear SOPs (standard operating procedures) for every common scenario. Platforms like OnlineJobs.ph are great for finding VAs in the Philippines who can cover customer service during US business hours while you are working from a coworking space in a different time zone.
Set Up a Professional Business Phone
Customers calling your high-ticket ecommerce store expect to reach a real person. Having a US business phone number that forwards to your cell phone or routes to a VoIP app is essential. Google Fi works internationally in 200+ countries and gives you a US number that rings wherever you are. Pair this with a service like Talkroute for a dedicated business line with voicemail, call routing, and auto-attendant features.
Invest in the Right Hardware
Your laptop is your office when you are a nomad, so do not cheap out. Get a reliable machine with at least 16GB of RAM, a solid-state drive, and good battery life (8+ hours). A lightweight 13 to 14-inch laptop is the sweet spot between screen size and portability. Bring noise-canceling headphones for calls in open coworking areas, and carry a portable charger for days when outlets are hard to find.
A portable wifi hotspot is also worth having as a backup. Even the best coworking spaces can have connectivity issues, and having your own mobile hotspot means you are never completely offline. If you are using Google Fi, your phone can serve as a hotspot in most countries.
Secure Your Business Data
Coworking spaces mean shared networks, and shared networks mean potential security vulnerabilities. Beyond using a VPN (which should be always on when you are on shared wifi), enable two-factor authentication on every business account. Use a password manager so you are not reusing passwords across services. Keep your operating system and software updated to patch security vulnerabilities.
For your ecommerce store specifically, make sure you are using SSL, keep your supplier agreements and contact information stored securely in the cloud (not on your laptop’s local drive), and have a backup plan if your laptop is lost or stolen. If everything is cloud-based and your accounts are secured with 2FA, losing a laptop is an inconvenience, not a catastrophe.
Coworking Costs Versus Home Office Costs
One question I get a lot is whether coworking is worth the money compared to just working from home or from cafes. Here is how the math breaks down for most nomad entrepreneurs.
A typical coworking membership in a mid-cost city runs $100 to $250 per month. In a premium city like London or New York, you might pay $300 to $500. In affordable cities like Chiang Mai or Tbilisi, it could be as low as $50 to $100. Compare this to working from cafes where you are spending $5 to $15 per day on coffee and food just to justify your seat. That adds up to $150 to $450 per month, often with worse internet and no meeting rooms.
Working from your apartment seems free but has hidden costs. You need a proper desk and chair (bad ergonomics lead to real health problems), reliable home internet (which varies wildly by country), and the mental discipline to stay focused without the structure a workspace provides. Many nomads find they are significantly more productive at a coworking space, which means the membership pays for itself in increased output.
The coworking membership is also a legitimate business expense you can deduct on your taxes. If you are claiming the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or filing as self-employed, that deduction reduces both your income tax and self-employment tax. Make sure you keep receipts and track this expense in your accounting software like FreshBooks.
Building Your Nomad Business Routine Around Coworking
Having a physical workspace to go to each day creates the structure that remote work often lacks. Here is the daily routine that works well for ecommerce business owners operating from coworking spaces.
Start your day with a morning block focused on high-priority tasks: responding to customer inquiries, processing orders, and handling any supplier communications that came in overnight. Use the quiet morning hours at the coworking space (most fill up after 10 AM) for deep work that requires focus.
Schedule your calls and meetings for midday when the space’s meeting rooms and phone booths are available. This keeps your focused work blocks uninterrupted and groups your collaborative work together. Use the coworking space’s meeting room booking system to reserve time in advance so you always have a private space when you need it.
Afternoons are great for marketing tasks, content creation, and business development. This is when you might work on your SEO strategy using tools like KWFinder for keyword research, create social media content, or plan your next product additions. The energy of being around other entrepreneurs in the coworking space tends to make these creative tasks easier.
End your workday at a set time. One of the dangers of nomad life is that work bleeds into everything because your laptop is always with you. Having a coworking space you physically leave at 5 or 6 PM creates a clear boundary between work and personal time. Close the laptop, leave the space, and go explore the city you are living in.
Coworking Etiquette Every Nomad Should Know
Shared workspaces only function well when everyone follows some basic rules. These might seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people get them wrong.
Keep phone calls out of the open workspace. Always use a phone booth or meeting room. Even a quick two-minute call disrupts everyone around you. If you need to take an unexpected call and no booth is available, step outside. Use headphones for all audio, including video calls, music, and any content you are watching or listening to. Never use your laptop speakers in a shared space.
Clean up after yourself in shared areas like kitchens, meeting rooms, and hot desks. Do not spread your belongings across multiple desks or leave personal items on hot desks overnight. Be mindful of strong food odors if you are eating at your desk. Respect the quiet zones if the space has them.
On the social side, be open to conversation but also respect people’s focus time. If someone has headphones on, they are signaling that they are in focus mode. A quick wave or smile is fine, but save the conversation for a break. Take advantage of community events and happy hours because those are the appropriate times for networking and socializing.
Tax Considerations for Coworking Expenses
Your coworking membership is a deductible business expense, but there are a few nuances worth knowing as an expat business owner.
If you operate your ecommerce business as a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, coworking costs go on Schedule C as “Office Expenses” or “Rent.” This deduction reduces your net self-employment income, which means it saves you money on both income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax. At $200 per month, that is $2,400 per year in deductions, saving you roughly $367 in SE tax alone plus whatever your income tax savings are.
Keep all your coworking receipts organized by month and location. If you use multiple coworking spaces as you travel, log each one with the dates, location, and amount paid. This documentation is important if the IRS ever questions the deduction. Having your business formation set up properly ensures all your business expenses including coworking are cleanly separated from personal expenses.
If you are filing your taxes as an expat, your coworking expenses also factor into the expat tax filing process. They reduce your net self-employment income before you apply the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which can impact your overall tax strategy. A good expat CPA will factor coworking costs into your overall tax planning.
Alternatives to Traditional Coworking
Traditional coworking spaces are not the only option for nomad entrepreneurs. Here are some alternatives worth considering depending on your situation.
Coliving Spaces With Built-In Workspaces
Coliving spaces like Selina, Outsite, and Roam combine accommodation with coworking under one roof. You live and work in the same building with other nomads. The convenience is unbeatable, and the cost often works out cheaper than renting an apartment plus a coworking membership separately. The downside is less privacy and the potential for work-life boundaries to blur.
Hotel Business Centers and Lobbies
Many hotels now cater to remote workers with dedicated work areas, free wifi, and quiet spaces. If you are staying at a hotel, check whether they have a business center or a quiet lobby area you can use. Some hotel chains have even launched coworking-style membership programs for non-guests.
Library Workspaces
Public libraries in many cities offer free wifi, quiet work areas, and sometimes even bookable meeting rooms. The obvious limitation is that you cannot take calls or have meetings, but for focused heads-down work, libraries are hard to beat. They are free, climate-controlled, and usually very quiet.
Virtual Office Services
If you need a professional business address and mail handling but do not need a physical desk every day, a virtual office might be more cost-effective than a full coworking membership. Traveling Mailbox gives you a real US street address with mail scanning and forwarding, which handles the business address need without the cost of a physical workspace. You can then use day passes at coworking spaces only when you need them.
Get Your Location-Independent Business Running
Coworking spaces are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to building a business you can run from anywhere. The foundation is having a business model that does not tie you to a specific location, and high-ticket dropshipping is one of the best models for that. Your suppliers handle inventory and shipping, your store runs on Shopify in the cloud, and you can manage everything from a laptop at any coworking space in the world.
If you are ready to build that kind of business, here are the resources I have put together to help.
My done-for-you turnkey store service builds your complete ecommerce business from scratch so you can start operating from day one, wherever you happen to be.
For personalized guidance on building and scaling your store, my 1-on-1 coaching program gives you direct access to someone who has been doing this from coworking spaces around the world for over 15 years.
The Ecommerce Paradise Masterclass and Community Group Coaching Program teaches the full system from niche selection to scaling, with a community of other location-independent entrepreneurs.
For store owners ready to scale with paid traffic, my Google Shopping Ads management service handles your ad campaigns so you can focus on the business.
And check out my recommended resources page for every tool and service I use to run my businesses remotely.
I wish you guys the best of luck out there. The digital nomad lifestyle combined with a solid ecommerce business is really really one of the best ways to live. Find a great coworking space, get your systems dialed in, and enjoy the freedom. Take care and I will see you in the next one.
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- Cost of Living Abroad vs USA in 2026
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- How to File Taxes as an Expat in 2026
- Best Countries to Retire Cheaply in 2026
Trevor Fenner
Email: trevor@ecommerceparadise.com
Phone: (307) 429-0021
5830 E 2nd St, Ste. 7000 #715, Casper, WY 82609
About | Contact | Resources
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
