Had to pick between a cheap apartment in Chiang Mai or a pricier co-living spot in Lisbon

Last month, I was stuck choosing between a $300/month apartment in Chiang Mai and a $1200/month co-living space in Lisbon. I went with Lisbon for the better internet and built-in community. After three weeks here, my work output is way up because the Wi-Fi is solid, and I've already made two new client connections through people in the house. The cost hurts my budget, but the networking has been worth it so far. Has anyone else faced a similar choice between saving money and investing in a better work setup?

3 comments

3 Comments

angelab761mo ago

Seriously? You're paying four times as much just for Wi-Fi and some random roommates. That $900 extra each month could buy a killer local SIM card and a backup hotspot anywhere, plus a ton of coffee meetings to actually choose your own network. How is that not a better deal? You can find community without locking yourself into a pricey dorm for grown ups. Sounds like you talked yourself into a fancy expense and are trying to make the math work after the fact.

lilyb2725d ago

Okay but @angelab76 is onto something with the pre-cut fruit thing. I once paid way too much for a "luxury" apartment with a gym I never used, just so I wouldn't have to deal with a leaky faucet myself. The irony of me, a plumber, doing that is not lost on me now.

stellas561mo ago

I see this all the time with my friends in their 30s, @angelab76. People get tired of the hunt for a decent apartment and just buy the first nice looking package deal. It's like paying for the pre cut fruit at the grocery store because you're sick of washing and chopping. Sure, the math never adds up, but the mental load feels lighter. The problem is you end up with overpriced melon and random roommates you didn't pick.