Coworking Spaces vs. Cafés vs. Your Rental: Where Digital Nomads Actually Get Work Done
Any laptop and a nice background is enough to post a picture on social media. Getting through a full working day is another story.
When traveling as a digital nomad you'll need to conduct yourself like a normal employee some of the time. You'll need a place to work, maybe take calls, hit your deadlines. Whether that's a coworking desk, cafe table or your rental.
Where should you spend the most time working? Well, it depends on what you need to get done.
Here's what matters:
Situations where you should spend money at a coworking space
Where cafes come in handy and don't
How to work at your rental
What a virtual office can do for you
Know What Work You Need To Do
First, know what work you need to get done that day.
You may need to sit on multiple video calls, this will require you to have a private area and reliable internet. Maybe you need to spend the day brainstorming, all you need is a chair and time to think.
Also consider plugs, bathroom, secure storage and a place to put your bag when you go to lunch.
It's what you need to get done that day that will dictate where you should work. Trying to force yourself to do everything at one location will cost you extra money or allow for distractions.
A Virtual Office Doesn't Replace A Work Desk
One more difference to know about is having a virtual office and where you work.
Sometimes you need a location to work that isn't the same as receiving your mail. Coworking spaces may not provide you with a business address when renting a day. Or you could receive your mail at your rental, but not for very long once your booking is over.
For independent professionals who need a more consistent point of contact, a virtual business address can keep business mail separate from temporary accommodation and let them manage it remotely.
For business registration or legal filings, check the applicable rules and address requirements before choosing a service. But if you just need to receive your mail, this will be a better option than another cafe trip.
Having a virtual office and a place to work can go hand in hand, but they're not the same thing.
Coworking Space
A coworking space can help when you need the structure of an office.
Most places will offer you a desk, plug for your laptop and others working. Some may even have private offices or meeting rooms to use as well, depending on the amount you pay.
Coworking spaces can help you:
Take calls if they offer meeting rooms
Have a reliable place to sit and work
Meet other remote workers in a shared workspace
Distinguish between working and not
However, coworking spaces aren't always quiet. There may be many people using the shared space, or the phone booth is being used by someone else. So don't assume that every space includes these features, especially if you're paying for a basic day pass.
Test out a day before committing to a whole week, if possible. Make sure to see if the internet speed meets your needs, test a phone call from that location and see if meeting rooms will cost you extra.
Best if: You need to take calls, have a lot of work due or are staying in one area for a longer period of time.
Cafes
Cafés make it easy to drop in, order a drink and start working.
This can be great to do some quick work, such as writing a blog post, checking emails and doing some light reading. Sometimes the hustle of being around others is nice if you're staying at an apartment that's too quiet.
Just know that cafes may have smaller tables, chairs that don't support your back for a long time, and some may not allow laptops during busy hours. Also, it's not always ideal to take client calls in front of the coffee maker.
You'll also be buying things at the cafe, which will cost you more money throughout the day.
Find a cafe that works for you during less busy hours, make sure they allow you to work and only buy what you need. If the wifi isn't good enough, bring your own hot spot.
Best if: You want to change up your environment, have some light work to do or need to work away from your normal workspace.
Your Rental
Since you're paying for your accommodation, why not take advantage of it and work from home?
Not only can you save money, but you don't have to worry about other people wanting your table. If the rental has a private room, it can also be useful for confidential calls, early meetings across time zones or long periods of focused work.
A May 2025 E-Wanderlust report covering 502 highly mobile digital nomads found that 45.6% chose their current home as their work environment. This was the highest response out of the list, however, Hotels and Airbnb stays were counted separately, so the figure doesn't measure short-term rental use.
Similar to working at a cafe, your rental may not always be ideal to work from.
The listing might promise fast internet but have the router hidden behind thick walls. All your rental may have is a table outside, or your Airbnb may have a beautiful view, but nowhere to comfortably work at for an extended period of time.
Always ask for a speed test when booking a rental, and pictures of where you will be working. See if they have chairs, a tall table, sunlight etc.
Once you arrive, create a work space and make sure you have chargers, know your internet works and have a backup if it doesn't.
Best if: You want to do most of your work, need to take private calls or have work that requires you to be in one location for a long period of time.
Use Each Location
There's no prize for picking one location and sticking to it.
Work at your rental when you need to get the bulk of your work done, go to a coworking space when you need to meet with clients. Enjoy your time at a cafe, but don't rely on it for every piece of work you need to complete.
Ask yourself:
Do you need privacy? Choose a rental with a private room or book a private meeting room.
Do you need to have access to certain amenities? If yes, try a coworking space and make sure it meets your needs.
Do you need to switch things up? Then head to a cafe, just make sure the work you need to do allows for distractions.