When people talk about coliving and coworking remotely, they often focus on the logistics: flights, time zones, laptops. But that’s not what makes it work. If you’re going to take your job on the road, you need a setup that supports focus, flexibility, and fun. You need a place that helps you get work done during the day and offers real connection, energy, and adventure after hours. That balance is hard to get right, which is why so many remote workers end up burning out or bouncing between short-term stays that don’t quite fit.
Coliving and coworking with a digital nomad community isn’t just a trend, it’s how a lot of people are making remote work sustainable. The combination of a professional setup and a social network makes this lifestyle not just possible, but genuinely enjoyable.
This blog is about how that model works. We’ll walk you through the key differences between static and nomadic coliving, how coworking fits into the picture, and what it looks like to join a community like WiFi Tribe. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to switch things up, this is everything we wish we knew when we began.
What’s the difference between coliving and coworking?
Coliving is about where you stay. Coworking is about how you get your work done.
Coliving usually means sharing a fully furnished apartment or house with other remote workers. You get your own room (or share one to save money), but the kitchen, lounge, and common areas are shared. Coworking means having access to a proper workspace with strong internet, a desk, and a community of other people who are focused during work hours.
Put simply, coliving is your home base, coworking is your work setup.
The two don’t always come bundled together. Some coliving spaces have built-in coworking, others expect you to find your own. Some coworking spaces are open to the public, while others are membership-only. If you’re joining a nomadic program like WiFi Tribe, the focus is on flexibility. You get strong wifi at the location you are staying in, plus the freedom to explore the best local spots.
Different types of coliving and coworking
Coliving can be divided into two different forms:
The first is ‘static’ or ‘stationary’ coliving. Here, a ‘coliving space’ comes in the form of either a house or apartment, at a fixed location with a permanent address.
- Some coliving spaces have single residences, such as Sun and Co. in Spain or Mokrin House in Serbia. There is only one location that the brand offers.
- Other coliving spaces offer multiple locations within a city, state or country.
- Finally, coliving brands such as Outsite present multiple coliving spaces across the world.
The second form of coliving, nomadic coliving, is what we at WiFi Tribe love. Truly remote, our form of nomadic coliving sees us slow-travel across the world, settling in a new destination every few weeks.
With nomadic coliving, there is no fixed address or permanent location. Accommodation, either in the form of houses or apartments, is rented temporarily. Once the travel period, or ‘Chapter’ as we like to call them, comes to an end, the groups move onto the next city and call a new destination home for a while.
Let’s unpack these two forms of co-living a little bit more.
Static coliving and coworking
Static coliving is a response to the rising cost of living, housing shortages, and urban isolation in major cities. It offers an alternative to renting a solo apartment, which can be expensive, isolating, and full of hidden costs like furnishing, utilities, and maintenance.
This is the version of coliving most people picture first. It usually looks like a shared house or apartment in a single, permanent location, often in big cities like New York, London, or Berlin. You get your own private bedroom (sometimes shared if you’re saving), and access to communal spaces like kitchens, lounges, and sometimes even gyms or rooftop gardens.
The idea is simple: more flexible and social than a traditional lease, but more structured and comfortable than hostels or short-term sublets. You move in, meet a few housemates, and live like a local while still keeping your professional life on track.
Typical features
- Private bedrooms (shared if you want to save)
- Shared kitchens and lounges
- Weekly events or meetups
- Coworking access or designated work areas
- Flexible check-ins, minimal paperwork
- Fully furnished spaces with cleaning/laundry included
Static coliving is often cheaper than solo living in a major city. It’s also a way to connect quickly when you’re new to a place. The downside? You’re locked into one spot. If the energy isn’t right, or you’re ready for a new city, you’re back to square one.
Nomadic coliving and coworking
Nomadic coliving takes everything people love about shared living and adds the freedom to explore new countries, cultures, and communities regularly. Instead of staying in one fixed location, nomadic coliving programs move from city to city, each stay lasting a few weeks to a month.
You still get the benefits of reliable work setups, connection with others, and shared accommodation. But you also get something static options can’t offer: adventure, flexibility, and the ability to truly experience a new place without committing to a lease or long-term rental.
We run nomadic coliving programs around the world with groups of 15–25 people, staying 30 days at a time in cities like Bali, Medellín, and Lisbon. Each chapter includes private or shared rooms, workspaces, fast WiFi, and a ready-made community to share it with.
Typical features
- Private or shared rooms (your choice, depending on budget)
- Fully furnished apartments or houses
- Shared kitchens, lounges, and work areas
- Fast, reliable WiFi and backup options
- Daily coworking space inside the house or optional external coworking passes
- Weekly group dinners, trips, and social events
- Chapter facilitators to support logistics and connection
- No leases or long-term commitments
- Pre-vetted community of professionals with aligned values
What makes nomadic coliving and coworking different?
You’re not committing to one city. With nomadic coliving, you can decide where to go next, whether that’s Southeast Asia, Europe, or South America. Some people join back-to-back chapters to explore entire regions. Others pick one place and come back to it every year.
And because you’re living with others who have also applied and been vetted, you’re not just winging it with random roommates. You’re moving in with people who value trust, respect, and shared experience. That makes it easy to settle in fast and feel like you’re part of something from day one.
You don’t need to figure everything out on your own. We scout the apartments, test the WiFi, and create the structure. You show up, get your work done, and build a routine with a new group of people who are likely asking the same questions and chasing similar goals.
Nomadic coliving isn’t just about where you sleep or work. It’s about making life more interesting while keeping your job and routine intact. For many remote workers, it’s the setup that finally makes everything click.
Digital nomad coliving programs
Typically, most digital nomad coliving programs function in a somewhat similar format. There are slight differences between each brand’s offering, typically in price and travel program style. For example:
- Unsettled offers ‘retreats’ in several destinations around the world. Retreats range in length from one or two weeks or a full month. Shorter experiences are ideal for a digital detox or downtime, while the longer programs are great for immersive work and travel experiences.
- Hackers Paradise offers a handful of programs throughout the year. These are generally one-month long, but participants can choose to enter a program one week in or halfway through.
- Noma Collective is a curated nomadic living experience that blends remote work, cultural immersion, and community. Unlike fixed-location coliving, Noma Collective hosts pop-up coliving and coworking retreats in handpicked destinations around the world, usually for 2 to 4 weeks at a time.
Coliving with WiFi Tribe
WiFi Tribe is a little bit different from the brands mentioned above in that we offer multiple chapters taking place simultaneously. At any given time, we could have up to four chapters running concurrently, so our offering is more widespread than the brands mentioned above.
Depending on your travel plans, joining WiFi Tribe, you could hop across the globe following the sun or slow travel across South America for a year, one city at a time. Bali, Thailand, Portugal and Colombia; you could find yourself in a new digital nomad hotspot each month of the year, making new friends and new memories.
How do I know if this is right for me?
A WiFi Tribe setup works best for remote workers who want more than just a change of scenery. It’s for people who want to make travel part of their lifestyle, not just a reward they save up for once a year.
If you’re accustomed to working remotely from your apartment, this model offers more flexibility. Instead of grinding alone in San Francisco or New York, you could be getting your work done from a quiet street in Mexico City or a terrace in Medellín with a view of the mountains.
Costs are often comparable to what you’d pay at home, especially if you’re sharing a room or heading to lower-cost countries. You still meet your deadlines, but now your weekends include jungle hikes or salsa dancing, not just takeout and TV.
This lifestyle is also about control. You pick the chapters that fit your schedule. You choose whether to stay in for a quiet night or join a group for karaoke. From there, you can slow travel or hop between cities. The flexibility is real, but the structure makes it work. anywhere, static or nomadic coliving is easily within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is coliving and coworking?
Coliving and coworking is a lifestyle setup where remote professionals live and work in the same space or nearby. Coliving means sharing a house or apartment with other digital nomads, usually with private rooms and shared common areas. Coworking provides a professional environment with reliable WiFi, desks, and work-friendly spaces. Together, they offer a flexible and connected way for remote workers to live and stay productive on the road.
What is the difference between coworking and coliving for digital nomads?
Coworking is about having a focused place to work, usually with fast internet and other professionals nearby. Coliving is about where you stay, often in a shared apartment with your own room and communal spaces. Digital nomads often combine both to balance productivity with community and flexibility while traveling.
Why is coworking important for digital nomads?
Coworking helps digital nomads stay productive with access to a stable work setup. Whether you’re in a coworking space or a home with strong WiFi and dedicated desks, it provides structure, community, and fewer distractions than working alone in cafes or hostels.
How does coliving benefit digital nomads?
Coliving gives digital nomads a built-in community, lower costs, and flexibility. You can move into a fully furnished space with private rooms and shared areas, connect with others immediately, and avoid long leases. It’s a simple way to feel at home in a new city.
What makes remote coworking and coliving different from traditional setups?
Remote coworking and coliving are designed for flexibility and connection. Unlike traditional rentals or solo workspaces, these setups let you live and work in different cities around the world without the hassle of setting things up yourself. You get the infrastructure and community support already in place.
What company offers coliving abroad for digital nomads?
Several companies offer international coliving for digital nomads. WiFi Tribe is a leading option with month-long chapters in different countries. Other notable names include Outsite, Noma Collective, and Unsettled. These programs combine remote coworking setups with travel, giving members the chance to explore new places while keeping a strong work routine.
