Lagos

Lagos does not apologize for being Lagos.

It is the largest city in Africa by population, the commercial capital of the continent's biggest economy, and the most intense, creative, exhausting, and alive city you will ever try to work from. It is not for everyone. The ones it is for know it instantly.

A nomad budget in Lagos runs between $895 and $1,400 per month depending on neighbourhood and lifestyle. Victoria Island and Lekki are where most expats and nomads base themselves. Ikoyi if you want quiet and green. The traffic between any of these places is Lagos's one unavoidable tax. Budget time into every commute.

Power backup is not optional here. It is how the city functions. Every serious coworking space runs generators. CcHub is Lagos's landmark innovation space, the original tech hub that helped build Nigeria's startup ecosystem. Co-Creation Hub has been incubating businesses and training developers since 2011. Smart X Lagos, Zahari Workspace in Lekki, and Hub43 in Magodo give you options across the city's sprawling geography.

Hot desks in Lagos start from $50 to $104 per month. Internet at coworking spaces typically runs 10 to 50 Mbps. Always ask about backup power and generator schedules before committing.

The honest version of Lagos: it will challenge you, sharpen you, and show you things about human ambition you will not find anywhere else. It is also genuinely affordable once you are inside it.