The Best Cities with the Most Affordable Co-Working Spaces
With remote working and freelancing rapidly on the rise, co-working spaces have become an important aspect of the contemporary milieu of work. They provide a variety of features, including flexible workspaces, high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and networking opportunities at these shared office spaces. Coworking spaces also offer a risk-free space where many freelancers, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads can work in a professional environment compared to a regular office space.
But this is not the case for all co-working spaces. Desk-profit: In some cities, the rent for a desk or a private office at a shared workspace can be pricey, hindering remote workers from affording the cost of working externally. Many other cities in the world have low-cost co-working spaces equipped with great amenities to keep professionals working in luxury at a low price.
In this article, we explore some of the world’s best cities that can accommodate (remote) workers and digital nomads looking for cheap co-working spaces, what affects co-working costs, why going cheaper is often better, and how to choose the right co-working space.
Factors that Contribute to the Price of Co-working Spaces.
But before we explore the list of names, it is also important to know what makes certain locations more economical than others in the context of co-working spaces. There are several critical factors that primarily create a disparity in the rates of co-working spaces across cities:
1. Cost of Living
Cost of living in the overall city is a big factor which affects co working space pricing. Co-working spaces are generally cheaper in cities where rent, utilities, and everyday costs are at a lower price. To Illustrate, a co-working space in Bangkok, Thailand is going to be a fractional cost of a New York City, USA, co-working space due to the lower cost of living.
2. Market Competition
Pricing is also relative to co-working space availability in a city. Demand will lead to more co-working providers competing to get members through their doors, with some almost discounting to try and get as many members through their doors as possible. The presence of so many co-working spaces in cities where remote work culture is thriving, translates to competitive pricing and flexibility in terms of membership.
3. Economic Conditions
Rental prices and business costs, for example, are affected by the economy of a country or a city. Places where the economy is thriving and therefore encouraging the growth of digital businesses might also be able to provide incentives or reduce rental costs for co-work spaces to bring more remote workers and startups to the area.
4. Flexible Workspace Demand
The demand for co-working spaces is higher where traditional office spaces are pricey or hard to come by. Though this sometimes creates a higher price, in some places, it causes competition and a better price point.
In order to choose a city that has cheap co-working places for professionals to settle in, it is essential to understand these factors.
Most Affordable Co-Working Spaces by City
The factors contributing to co-working spaces pricing have been discussed above, so now, let us look at some of the best cities around the world offering great, low-cost co-working spaces.
1. Carlsbad, California, USA
Carlsbad boasts about 15 co-working spaces per 100,000 residents, and it tied for the fifth-best U.S. city for affordable co-working spaces. Due to high availability of co-working office spaces, the rates have remained extremely competitive and comparatively cheap when compared to other California cities including Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Not only does Carlsbad have affordable co-working spaces, but it also has a great lifestyle with a lot of facilities, great climate, and a growing professional scene. It is the perfect spot for remote workers looking to enjoy a laid-back work-life balance, all while taking advantage of the business-friendly climate of California.
2. Provo, Utah, USA
Provo is developing into an entrepreneur and remote worker-friendly town due to lower wage growth, cheaper rent, and business-friendly elements. With the GDP growth reaching close to 46%, the city is an attractive spot for startups and small businesses.
Provo is a haven for freelancers and techies since it offers co-working spaces the flexibility of fresh modern office facilities at an affordable price. Fast internet speeds and a friendly stance towards business in the city also keep overhead and productivity from being an issue for those who work remotely.
3. Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Atlanta currently boasts the fourth most co-working spaces per capita in the U.S., with 23.8 per 100,000 residents. With so many options, professionals can discover cheap monthly memberships which is atypical for further big U.S. towns.
Apart from how affordable it is, Atlanta is also popular for its burgeoning startup culture, strong networking opportunities, and diverse professional community. Offering affordable, scalable business for entrepreneurs, Seattle's business-friendly policies and infrastructure provide excellent landscape for growth.
4. Durham, North Carolina, USA
Durham Even though Durham appears to be an expensive town with big ambitions, it is really one of the most freelancer-friendly cities in the U. Remote workers can access now available at a fraction of the cost of cities like New York or San Francisco.
An excellent option for professionals wishing to have the right mix of lose and stable business environment whilst enjoying an unstabilised tech and startup scene. Durham is the best place for budget-minded remote workers because it combines low living costs with top-notch workspaces.
5. Rochester, New York, USA
Option around the USA: Rochester, the cheapest virtual office in Rochester has a price of as low as $50 a monthly Another reason is that the city has a low cost of living, with very affordable office rental rates, meaning co-working spaces are relatively inexpensive.
If you are professional that requires a physical office location to do business but don’t need an office desk every day, Rochester offers a cost effective solution with a perfect mix of accessibility and cost.
6. Málaga, Spain
Ideal Examples: Málaga, Spain (25 & cheap co-working spaces): Known as one of the most attraktive city in Europe for digital nomads. This Mediterranean climate, history, and low cost of living attracts many remote workers to the vibrant and cheap city.
Although rent in a few downtown locations such as Centro Histórico is a bit more expensive, the city still provides solid affordability and practicality for life, making it a popular choice among digitalised workers.
7. Lisbon, Portugal
With low living costs and affordable co-working, Lisbon had it all to become a digital nomad capital. Lisbon: Searching for a Suitable Remote Working Location Many remote workers gravitate towards Lisbon, thanks to its balance between life and work, high-speed internet, and large network of international people.
For those looking for affordable and comfortable co-working spaces, Lisbon comes out on top as co-working spaces are way cheaper here than in any Western European capital including London or Paris.
The Advantages Of Opting For Inexpensive Co-Working Spaces
There are some inherent benefits of cheap co-working spaces which make them perfect for someone working remotely, freelancers, or an entrepreneur.
1. Cost Savings
Economic co-working spaces enable professionals to find good workspaces without having to spend a large part of their earnings on rent. This is particularly helpful for startups and freelancers to keep their expenses on point.
2. Flexibility
For thousands of dollars less, many inexpensive_co-working_spaces have flexibility through different membership options, giving workers the ability to pay daily, weekly or monthly, with a range of different benefits.
3. Networking Opportunities
Shared workspaces make for a great chance to meet and mingle with fellow professionals, share ideas and collaborate on projects if needed. Most of the working spaces also organise networking events which can help a lot in the development of businesses.
4. Access to Amenities
But even affordable co-working spaces provide fast Wi-Fi, conference rooms, printers, coffee and other professional amenities that make work more productive.
Conclusion
If you're a remote worker, or an entrepreneur on a budget needing co-working spaces, then Carlsbad, Provo, Atlanta, Durham, Rochester, Málaga and Lisbon have some of the best values in co-working in the world. These cities offer affordable co-working space, as well as vibrant professional communities and great amenities — even a better quality of life than some of the biggest startup cities like San Francisco!
Remote work enables professionals to find the right balance between comfort and productivity while keeping their budgets in check, creating an environment where they can thrive.