Cost of living getting you down? Sick of long winters? You’re not the only one thinking of escaping to somewhere far, far away – and now a quaint town in Spain is willing to pay you thousands to do so.
The adorable small town of Ponga in Spain’s northern mountains is prepared to pay £2,600 (€2,970, $3,244) to every person that moves over. That includes babies, too, so families have an extra incentive. The local authority hopes that the new citizens will boost the local economy while enjoying the 2,000 hours of sunshine across the year.
The catch? You have to commit to staying in the town for at least five years – but we can think of worse places to live. Ponga is home to a major nature reserve, meaning residents will have access to beautiful hiking trails, breathtaking birdwatching spots, and thrilling adventure sports. The nearby Costa Verde offers beach days while locals can enjoy a busier pace of life in Gijon, the closest city.
These aren't the only tempting invitations available across Europe. At the end of last year, Italy announced it would pay people €30,000 to move to some of its rural towns. The country has an ongoing one-euro home scheme, most recently putting eight houses in Sant'Elia up for sale to stimulate the town’s economy.
Did you read about the Spanish island that is cracking down on British tourism?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening across the world.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated that the town of Rubia in Spain is also paying people to move there. No such scheme exists in Rubia at this time.