Which City Is the Best for Coworking?

With remote work becoming a permanent and often indispensable option for employees, coworking spaces have become essential hubs for productivity, networking, and innovation. But which cities offer the best environments for coworking? Our in-depth analysis evaluates cities worldwide using three critical data points: Google reviews of coworking spaces, average internet speed, and cost of living. Here’s what we found.

Methodology

To ensure a robust and accurate analysis, we followed a detailed and systematic approach to evaluate the best cities for coworking spaces. Here’s how we conducted our study:

• City Selection: We started by compiling a list of 100 cities known for their coworking environments. This initial list was based on various sources and criteria that identified these cities as popular or highly regarded for coworking.
• Google Reviews: For each city, we scraped Google reviews from up to 100 coworking spaces. To ensure data reliability, we averaged the scores of coworking spaces, excluding any profiles with fewer than 15 reviews. This exclusion helped avoid skewed data from profiles with a minimal number of high ratings, which could distort the overall assessment.
• Internet Speed Data: We obtained average internet speed data from three reliable sources: Speedtest.net, Testmy.net, and Broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk. These platforms provide user-reported data, ensuring a comprehensive and realistic measure of internet speeds in each city.
• Cost of Living: We used Numbeo.com to gather data on the estimated costs of a single person living in each city. This index provides a combined measure of living expenses, offering a practical perspective on the financial demands faced by remote workers in each location.

By integrating these data points, we calculated normalized scores for each city, enabling us to rank them based on their suitability for coworking. This approach ensures that our findings are grounded in objective, relevant, and up-to-date information, providing valuable insights for remote workers seeking the best coworking environments globally.

Best USA Cities for Coworking Spaces

The United States hosts a variety of top-tier coworking spaces, each offering unique benefits. From tech hubs to cultural centers, these cities provide the infrastructure and community support that remote workers need to succeed. Here are the standout US cities for coworking spaces based on our analysis.

1. Fort Worth, Texas: With a high overall score of 7.63, Fort Worth boasts the highest rated coworking spaces on Google, with 4.78/5 on average. The city’s expanding business landscape, combined with a relatively lower cost of living, makes it an attractive option for remote workers. Fort Worth’s growing appeal is driven by its robust local economy and supportive business environment, making it a top destination for tech and finance professionals.
   
2. Raleigh, North Carolina: Known for its booming tech industry, Raleigh scores 7.31, offering the fastest internet speed among US cities at 290 Mbps on average. Raleigh’s affordable living costs and strong startup ecosystem, anchored by the renowned Research Triangle Park, make it an ideal location for tech professionals and entrepreneurs seeking a dynamic work environment.
   
3. Houston, Texas: Scoring 6.69, Houston stands out for its low cost of living, with a monthly budget of $1,098. This makes it a viable option for remote workers looking for affordability without sacrificing quality. Houston’s diverse economy, which includes energy, aerospace, and healthcare sectors, offers ample opportunities for professionals across various fields.
   
4. Miami, Florida: With a score of 6.4, Miami offers a vibrant cultural scene, excellent weather, and diverse coworking options. The city’s dynamic atmosphere and strong ties to Latin American markets make it a popular choice for digital nomads and international business professionals.
   
5. San Diego, California: Scoring 6.33, San Diego provides a balanced lifestyle with its perfect weather, beautiful coastlines, and high-quality coworking spaces. Known for its biotech and military sectors, San Diego offers a thriving professional environment with a laid-back, coastal vibe.
   
6. Los Angeles, California: Known for its dynamic cultural and creative industries, Los Angeles scores 6.19. The city’s diverse coworking spaces cater to a wide range of professionals, particularly those in entertainment, media, and technology sectors, making it a magnet for creative talent and innovation.
   
7. Austin, Texas: With a vibrant cultural scene and high-speed internet, Austin scores 6.13, making it a popular choice for digital nomads and remote workers alike. Austin’s thriving music and arts scene, coupled with a strong tech industry, create a unique blend of work and play.
   
8. Sacramento, California: Scoring 6.02, Sacramento offers a good mix of affordability and quality coworking spaces. The city’s emerging tech scene and close proximity to Silicon Valley make it an attractive option for professionals looking to escape the high costs of larger California cities while remaining connected to major tech hubs.
   
9. Boston, Massachusetts: With a score of 5.94, Boston’s strong academic and professional environment makes it a great place for coworking. Known for its prestigious universities and vibrant startup ecosystem, Boston attracts a diverse group of professionals and academics, fostering a rich collaborative environment.

10. Denver, Colorado: Scoring 5.9, Denver offers a balanced lifestyle with good coworking spaces and a strong community feel. The city’s proximity to outdoor recreational activities and its growing tech scene make it an appealing destination for remote workers seeking both professional and personal fulfilment.

Best Global Cities for Coworking Spaces

Outside the United States, several global cities offer exceptional coworking environments. These cities combine high-quality coworking spaces, robust internet speeds, and affordable living costs, making them ideal for remote workers worldwide.

1. São Paulo, Brazil: São Paulo leads the global ranking with a score of 7.61, boasting the highest Google rating of 4.79/5. The city’s diverse economy and vibrant culture make it a prime destination for remote workers. Known for its bustling financial and commercial sectors, São Paulo offers numerous opportunities for professional growth and networking.
   
2. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Scoring 7.28, Rio offers a unique blend of affordability and cultural richness. The city’s stunning landscapes and vibrant lifestyle attract remote workers from around the globe. However, safety concerns in certain areas should be considered. Rio’s thriving tech and creative industries make it a dynamic place to work and live.
   
3. Belo Horizonte, Brazil: With a score of 6.74, Belo Horizonte combines good coworking spaces with an affordable cost of living. The city’s growing tech scene and supportive business environment provide a solid foundation for digital nomads and entrepreneurs. Belo Horizonte is known for its friendly community and high quality of life.
   
4. Barcelona, Spain: Scoring 6.6, Barcelona provides a high-quality coworking environment with a reasonable cost of living. The city’s rich cultural heritage and modern amenities make it ideal for remote workers seeking a blend of work and leisure. Barcelona’s strong startup ecosystem and vibrant creative industries attract a diverse professional crowd.
   
5. Madrid, Spain: With a score of 6.51, Madrid offers excellent coworking spaces and a vibrant cultural scene. The city’s central location in Europe and robust transport links make it a convenient base for international business. Madrid’s dynamic economy and lively social scene create a stimulating environment for remote workers.
   
6. Toronto, Canada: Scoring 6.4, Toronto boasts the fastest internet speed among global cities at 235 Mbps on average. The city’s diverse and dynamic environment makes it a great place for coworking. Toronto’s strong tech sector and multicultural community offer ample opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
   
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: With a score of 6.23, Kuala Lumpur offers affordable living costs and quality coworking spaces. The city’s strategic location in Southeast Asia makes it a hub for regional business and travel. Kuala Lumpur’s growing tech scene and supportive infrastructure make it an attractive destination for digital nomads.
   
8. Bogotá, Colombia: Scoring 6.15, Bogotá offers the lowest cost of living among the top global cities at $544 monthly. This makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious remote workers. Bogotá’s vibrant cultural scene and emerging tech industry provide a stimulating environment for professionals seeking new opportunities.
   
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands: With a score of 5.74, Amsterdam provides a vibrant coworking scene with excellent facilities and a strong international community. The city’s high quality of life and progressive business environment make it a popular choice for remote workers. Amsterdam’s creative industries and startup culture offer numerous opportunities for professional growth.

10. Warsaw, Poland: Scoring 4.94, Warsaw offers affordable coworking spaces and a growing startup ecosystem. The city’s rich history and modern amenities create a unique blend of old and new. Warsaw’s supportive business environment and strong educational institutions attract a diverse range of professionals and entrepreneurs.

Best Cities for Specific Industries

Certain cities naturally lend themselves to specific industries, providing specialized environments that cater to the unique needs of professionals in these fields. By examining our data, we’ve identified the best cities for tech, finance, and creative professionals.

• Tech Industry: Raleigh, North Carolina and Austin, Texas are ideal for tech professionals, offering robust internet speeds and a supportive startup ecosystem. Raleigh’s tech industry benefits from the Research Triangle Park, while Austin’s vibrant tech scene is supported by numerous tech companies and startups.
• Finance: New York City provides unparalleled opportunities for finance professionals with its extensive networks and business resources. Despite its high cost of living, the city’s financial sector is unmatched, making it a key destination for finance professionals.
• Creative Industries: Los Angeles, California and Berlin, Germany are perfect for those in creative fields. Los Angeles offers a dynamic cultural scene with numerous coworking options tailored to creative professionals, while Berlin is known for its vibrant arts community and affordable coworking spaces.

Government Initiatives and Support

Cities that support remote work and startups with government initiatives and incentives can greatly enhance the coworking experience. These programs can offer financial assistance, tax benefits, and other forms of support that make a city even more attractive for remote workers.

• Raleigh, North Carolina: Raleigh benefits from North Carolina’s various grants and incentives for startups, particularly in the tech sector. The Research Triangle Park provides a hub for innovation and collaboration.
• Singapore: Offers various grants and tax incentives for startups, making it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs. High internet speeds and well-rated coworking spaces further enhance its appeal.
• Dublin, Ireland: Known for its friendly business environment and low corporate tax rates, Dublin attracts numerous tech companies and startups. The city also has strong internet connectivity and well-rated coworking spaces.
• Vancouver, Canada: Provides grants and support programs for startups and tech companies, along with excellent coworking spaces and robust internet speeds.

Conclusion

Our analysis reveals that while US cities like Fort Worth and Raleigh offer top-notch coworking spaces with high-speed internet, they often come with higher living costs. In contrast, cities in Brazil and Europe provide a compelling mix of affordability, quality coworking environments, and satisfactory internet speeds.

Whether you’re looking for a vibrant and affordable coworking space in São Paulo, or a tech-savvy environment in Raleigh, there’s a perfect city for every remote worker’s needs. This study highlights the growing global landscape of coworking spaces, offering diverse options for professionals worldwide.