I compared coworking in Chiang Mai vs Medellin and one was clearly better for my workflow

I spent three months in Chiang Mai last year and then three months in Medellin this spring. The internet in Medellin was faster and more reliable, but the cost of living was about 40 percent higher. Coffee shops in Chiang Mai had better seating setups for working long hours, with power outlets everywhere. But the time zone difference made it hard to sync with my US clients from Asia. In the end, Medellin won out for me because I could work normal hours and still have evenings free. Has anyone else found one city just clicks better for their specific work style?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewgonzalez1mo agoMost Upvoted

You ever had a buddy who just couldn't make it work in one spot? My friend Sarah tried Medellin for two months. She's a video editor. Huge files. The internet there was solid but her apartment had zero desk space. She ended up working from her bed with a laptop stand. Her back was wrecked in three weeks. She left early for Chiang Mai and found a coworking spot with these huge wooden tables and proper chairs. Never went back.

matthewsullivan1mo ago

My buddy from college tried that setup in Lisbon. He had a sweet apartment with great light but the only table was this tiny breakfast bar. He lasted a month hunched over his laptop before his neck gave out. He bailed for a place in Budapest with a proper desk and said it changed everything for him.