Coworking pass or local cafe: which one actually saves you money in Bali?

I spent 3 months in Canggu last year trying both. First month I bought a coworking pass at Dojo for $150 and got work done fast, but meals nearby killed my budget. Next two months I just used cafes like The Shady Shack with a $3 smoothie bowl and free wifi, but the noise and unreliable power messed with my calls. Which setup actually works better for people doing video calls from Bali? I'm debating my next trip.

3 comments

3 Comments

kai_burns737d agoTop Commenter

Stumbled into this same dilemma last year and ended up working from my Airbnb poolside with a tethering plan (around $20 a month for 50GB). Power outages are a nightmare in Ubud especially, so I'd carry a portable battery for my modem just in case. The coworking spots are great for focus but the cafe game is all about finding that one spot with decent plugs and outlets that don't fry your laptop charger. Maybe try a hybrid approach like I did - coworking on heavy call days, cafes for the rest.

danielr997d ago

I heard someone say the key is just testing a few spots before committing to any one place long term.

baker.christopher7d agoProlific Poster

Yeah I read somewhere that Ubud's power grid is pretty sketchy, so that portable battery trick sounds smart. Good tip on the hybrid setup too, splitting between coworking and cafes seems like the sweet spot.