Where Should Expats Work: Your Office or Shared Space?

Moving to a new country brings countless decisions, but one of the most practical choices you’ll face is where to set up your workspace. As an expat navigating unfamiliar territory, your work environment can significantly impact both your professional success and personal well-being.

Remote work has opened up incredible opportunities for location independence, yet it also presents unique challenges when you’re far from home. Should you create a dedicated home office in your new space, or would joining local coworking spaces better serve your goals?

Both options offer distinct advantages, and the right choice depends on your specific circumstances, work style, and what you hope to achieve in your new country.

This guide will help you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each approach, considering factors that matter most to expats: budget constraints, networking opportunities, cultural integration, and maintaining productivity in an entirely new environment.

Home Office Setup: Building Your Personal Workspace

Creating Comfort on Your Terms

Setting up a home office gives you complete control over your environment. You can design a space that matches your work habits, from lighting preferences to desk height, without negotiating with anyone else.

For expats dealing with enough daily adjustments, having one space that feels entirely yours can provide crucial stability.

Your remote work setup at home also means no commute time, which is especially valuable when you’re still learning local transportation systems.

You can roll out of bed and start working, or take breaks whenever you need them, without worrying about office etiquette in a new culture.

Financial Considerations for Expat Budgets

Home offices typically cost less over time than coworking memberships. While you’ll need to invest in furniture, equipment, and potentially better internet, these are one-time expenses.

Many expats arrive with tight budgets as they establish themselves, making the lower ongoing costs of working from home attractive.

However, consider your living situation carefully. Rental prices in expat-friendly neighborhoods often reflect demand, and finding an apartment with enough space for a proper office might push you into a higher price bracket.

Studio apartments and shared housing arrangements may not provide adequate workspace.

Potential Drawbacks of Isolation

Working from home can amplify the isolation many expats already feel. Without built-in opportunities for casual interactions, you might find yourself spending entire days without meaningful social contact.

This isolation can slow your cultural integration and language learning. Additionally, maintaining work-life boundaries becomes more challenging when your bedroom and office occupy the same space.

For expats already dealing with stress from major life changes, the inability to “leave work at work” can compound existing pressures.

Shared Workspaces: Joining Professional Communities

Networking and Social Connections

Coworking spaces excel at providing instant access to professional networks. For expats who need to rebuild their professional connections from scratch, these environments offer invaluable opportunities.

You’ll meet other remote workers, local entrepreneurs, and potentially other expats who understand your situation.

These connections often extend beyond work. Many expat success stories include friendships that began in coworking spaces, leading to dinner invitations, weekend activities, and insider knowledge about navigating local systems.

Professional Atmosphere and Accountability

Shared workspaces maintain professional energy that can boost your expat productivity. The presence of other focused workers creates natural accountability, helping you maintain consistent work habits even when everything else in your life feels unstable.

Most coworking spaces also provide amenities that would be expensive to replicate at home: high-speed internet, printing facilities, meeting rooms, and often coffee or snacks. For expats still setting up their living situations, these resources can be crucial.

Structured Integration Opportunities

Many coworking spaces organize events, workshops, and networking sessions. These structured activities provide natural ways to meet people and learn about your new city’s business culture.

Some spaces even offer language exchange programs or cultural orientation sessions specifically designed for international members.

Managing Costs and Commitments

Coworking memberships represent ongoing monthly expenses, which can strain expat budgets. Prices vary significantly by location, with spaces in major international hubs often costing several hundred dollars per month for full access.

Consider starting with day passes or part-time memberships to test different spaces before committing. Many coworking spaces offer expat discounts or flexible arrangements for people in transition periods.

Making Your Decision: Key Factors for Expats

Assess Your Networking Needs

Consider how established your professional network is in your new country. If you’re changing careers, starting a business, or working in a field where local connections matter, coworking spaces provide faster access to relevant contacts.

However, if you work for an international company with an established local presence, networking might be less critical.

Evaluate Your Living Situation

Your housing arrangement significantly influences this decision. If you’re living with roommates, staying in temporary accommodation, or dealing with noise issues, a dedicated workspace outside your home might be essential for maintaining professionalism during video calls and focused work sessions.

Consider Your Integration Goals

Think about how quickly you want to integrate into local professional culture. Coworking spaces accelerate this process by providing regular exposure to local business practices, networking styles, and professional norms. Working from home limits these learning opportunities.

Budget for Long-Term Success

Calculate the true costs of each option over six months to a year. Include not just membership fees or furniture costs, but also commuting expenses, coffee shop visits when you need to escape your apartment, and the potential value of connections made in coworking spaces.

Hybrid Approaches: Best of Both Worlds

Flexible Combinations

Many successful expats combine both approaches. You might maintain a basic home office setup for routine tasks while purchasing part-time coworking access for meetings, networking events, or when you need a change of environment.

This hybrid model allows you to control costs while still accessing the community benefits of shared workspaces. Start with a home setup and add coworking access as you identify specific needs.

Seasonal Adjustments

Your workspace needs might change as you settle into your new country. Initially, coworking spaces might provide crucial social contact and professional guidance.

As you establish local friendships and understand your new environment better, you might transition to primarily working from home with occasional coworking days.

Building Success in Your New Environment

Your workspace choice is just one element of expat success, but it’s an important one that affects your daily routine, professional development, and social integration.

The best choice balances your immediate practical needs with your longer-term goals for life in your new country. Start by honestly assessing your current situation: your budget, living arrangement, networking needs, and how you work best.

Remember that this decision isn’t permanent. Many expats benefit from trying both approaches and adjusting based on what they learn about themselves and their new environment.

Whether you choose the focused independence of a home office or the community energy of coworking spaces, prioritize creating a workspace that supports both your productivity and your broader goals as an expat building a new life abroad.