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The short answer
Divide the monthly membership price by the day-pass price to find your break-even number of days. If you regularly use the space more days than that, the monthly plan is cheaper; if fewer, day passes are. Factor in extras like meeting rooms and how reliably you use the space, and pay from income where possible.
The options most spaces offer
- Day pass
- Use of a shared desk for one day. Pay only when you go.
- Bundle of days
- A set number of days, for example 10, used within a month or longer.
- Hot desk monthly
- Any free shared desk, any working day of the month.
- Dedicated desk
- Your own desk, kept for you, often with storage.
- Private office
- A lockable room for one person or a team.
Most freelancers and remote workers choose between the first three. The right one depends mainly on how many days you actually go.
The break-even calculation
Break-even days = monthly price ÷ day-pass price. Above that number, monthly is cheaper. Below it, day passes are cheaper.
Example only. A co-working space in Ikeja charges ₦6,000 for a day pass, ₦50,000 for a 10-day bundle and ₦85,000 for a monthly hot desk.
| Days used a month | Day passes | 10-day bundle | Monthly hot desk | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | ₦24,000 | ₦50,000 | ₦85,000 | Day passes |
| 8 | ₦48,000 | ₦50,000 | ₦85,000 | Day passes |
| 10 | ₦60,000 | ₦50,000 | ₦85,000 | Bundle |
| 14 | ₦84,000 | ₦50,000 + ₦24,000 | ₦85,000 | Bundle plus passes |
| 20 | ₦120,000 | ₦50,000 + ₦60,000 | ₦85,000 | Monthly |
In this example, the monthly hot desk breaks even against day passes at about 14 days (₦85,000 ÷ ₦6,000). Against a bundle topped up with day passes, monthly wins above about 16 days. At 8 days or fewer, plain day passes are cheapest.
Beyond price
- Habit: people on monthly plans tend to go more often. If routine matters to your work, that has value.
- Meeting rooms: monthly plans often include some meeting-room hours; day passes may not.
- Availability: day-pass holders may be turned away when the space is full. Ask how often this happens.
- Storage and mail: dedicated desks often include a locker and mail handling.
- Flexibility: if your weeks vary a lot, passes or bundles avoid paying for days you do not use.
A second example: the part-time remote worker
Example only. Blessing works remotely for a company abroad and goes into a co-working space in Port Harcourt on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, about 13 days a month. The space charges ₦5,000 a day, ₦42,000 for 10 days and ₦75,000 for a monthly hot desk.
| Option | Cost for 13 days |
|---|---|
| Day passes | ₦65,000 |
| 10-day bundle plus 3 passes | ₦57,000 |
| Monthly hot desk | ₦75,000 |
For Blessing, the bundle plus a few passes is the cheapest choice, saving ₦18,000 a month against the monthly plan, or about ₦216,000 over a year. If she started going four days a week, about 17 days, the bundle and passes would cost ₦77,000 and the monthly plan would become slightly cheaper. Running the numbers each quarter keeps her on the right plan.
Track before you commit
Before switching to a monthly plan, track your actual use for a month on day passes. Note which days you went and why you did not go on others. Many people find they go less often than they expected, especially in rainy season or around client travel. Use the real number in the break-even calculation. A simple note in your phone calendar each time you go is enough, and it removes the guesswork when the operator offers you a monthly deal.
Hidden costs on both sides
Day passes can carry small extras: printing, a meeting room for an hour, or paid parking. Monthly plans can carry a deposit or a sign-up fee. Add these to each column before deciding, because on a tight margin they can change the answer.
If income is uneven
Freelancers with uneven income can mix plans: a monthly membership in busy months and day passes in quiet ones, if the operator allows switching. Ask about the notice needed to change plans. Some operators also let unused bundle days roll over for a limited period, which helps in months when client travel or deadlines keep you at home. Check the expiry rules in writing before you buy a bundle.
Paying for it
Desk space is a recurring cost, so it is best paid from income. If a client payment is late and you need the desk this month to deliver the work that earns the payment, short-term credit may help. Loans on Spaces can pay co-working spaces and serviced offices that are Spaces merchants, if a limit is offered on your Pryme account and you accept the agreement, which shows the amount, cost and repayment date in full. Include that cost in your comparison: a monthly plan paid on credit costs the membership plus the cost of borrowing. Under the CBN's Consumer Protection Regulations, regulated institutions must disclose terms clearly before you commit.
Where Pryme fits
A Flexible Savings Box in the Pryme app can hold next month's desk money; see Savings Boxes. If you work for clients abroad, a multicurrency account lets you be paid in USD, GBP or EUR; read getting paid by international clients. For paying a Spaces co-working space on credit, see paying for a co-working desk with Loans on Spaces.
Questions people ask
Is a co-working day pass worth it in Nigeria?
If you go only a few days a month, day passes are usually cheaper than monthly plans. Work out your break-even days by dividing the monthly price by the day-pass price.
How many days make a monthly co-working plan worth it?
Divide the monthly price by the day-pass price. If you regularly use the space more days than that, monthly is cheaper.
Do day passes include meeting rooms?
Often not, or only at extra cost. Ask the operator before choosing.
Can I pay for co-working with Loans on Spaces?
Yes, if the space is a Spaces merchant and you accept the agreement in the Pryme app. Include the cost of borrowing in your comparison.
Sources
- CBN Consumer Protection Regulations 2019 · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq: A glimpse into the Credit Reporting Act 2017 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.