Today we present you 10 cities and countries that will pay you to move there. However, before proceeding, we need to make one thing clear – only one place on this list is actually giving cash to its residents while others offer different kinds of financial benefits to newcomers which range from almost free land and homes to different kinds of subsidies for buying a house, starting a business or attending college.
Declining and aging population is the main reason behind programs aimed at attracting new inhabitants. In an attempt to reverse negative population trend cities have developed initiatives that encourage people to allocate by offering various kinds of financial stimulation. However, researchers warn that giving away land and homes for free does not pay off in the long run and that a much better approach to reviving towns is luring people to start a business in their communities.
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To form the list of 10 cities and countries that will pay you to move there we divided places into three groups – those giving away lots to home builders, those who focus on retaining young people by offering tuition and loan reimbursements, and finally those who solely provide financially benefits to entrepreneurs who want to start a business. Some places do not fall into any of these categories and they are presented individually.
If you do not find a place on this list that suits your needs, you can check our ranking of 10 easiest countries to gain citizenship in the EU.
Now, let’s start with our list of 10 cities and countries that will pay you to move there!
10. Kaitangata, New Zealand
We start our list with a small town in New Zealand of only 800 residents, Kaitangata, which was in a global spotlight for a few weeks this summer after it was reported that it was paying $160,000 to people to move there. When the story about this small rural community broke in the western media, the search for the term Kaitangata, New Zealand on Wikipedia exceeded searches for Sydney and Los Angeles. However, it turned out that the town, situated on the left bank of the Clutha River, was not, after all, prepared to spend so much money to attract new inhabitants. Nevertheless, Kaitangata offers a few benefits to newcomers, the major one being home and land package worth NZ$230,000 as well as hundreds of available jobs in the town’s district. Currently, the Clutha District Council’s website states that although they appreciate the international attention they have received, they are “overwhelmed with enquiries from around the world“, which is why they ask potential home buyers to be patient while waiting for a response.
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9. Province of Saskatchewan, Canada; Niagara Falls, New York, US; Kansas, US
A few places in Canada and the US are especially generous to students. The Province of Saskatchewan that ranks 9th in our list of cities and countries that will pay you to move there runs Graduate Retention Program which aims to attract and retain students by offering tuition reimbursements of up to $20,000. To apply for the program you need to have post-secondary degree obtained during last seven years, and to be Saskatchewan’s resident or move to the province. Niagara Falls has a similar initiative called Live NF which helps applicants pay student loans by reimbursing up to $6,984 for a period of two years during which the applicant must remain a resident of the targeted area. Finally, Kansas hopes to revitalize its rural area through Rural Opportunity Zones, which encompasses 77 counties, by offering up to $15,000 reimbursements for student loans as well as income tax waivers for a limited period of time.
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8. The Rural Municipality of Pipestone, Manitoba province, Canada; Curtis, Nebraska, US
Pipestone and Curtis are giving lots for free or almost for free to potential home builders in their communities. Canada’s municipality is selling lots for $10 in small towns Reston, Pipestone and Sinclair while also offering financial help to those who plan to launch a business ($32,000) or buy/build a home in these communities. So far 25 lots have been sold, while the municipality officials said that new ones would be made available in the future. Non-Canadian residents should know that buying a land in Pipestone does not automatically secure a visa of any kind. Moreover, those who sign the agreement with the municipality are obliged to build a new house within a year and give $1,000 down payment, out of which $990 is returned when the house is finished. On the other side Curtis is giving away Curtis is giving away lots at golf courses. Nine lots are still available and the city hopes it will attract home builders by marketing the golf course as “Nebraska’s best kept secret”.
7. Detroit, Michigan, US
High crime and unemployment rates that exceed the national average, coupled with a sluggish economy, have led to increased depopulation in Detroit, the next one in the list of cities and countries that will pay you to move there. In order to reverse declining population trend, the city has run the program Challenge Detroit, which provides financial help to young professionals to move to greater Detroit area and work. Besides, the city has two residential living programs (Live Downtown and Live Midtown) that provide a $20,000 forgivable loan for buying a home, $2,500 allowance for renting an apartment during the first year of stay, as well as funding for home exterior improvements.
6. Baltimore, Maryland,US
Another large US city facing declining population and rise in abandon buildings Baltimore has just secured funds for its Baltimore Homeownership Incentive Program, which offers $5.000 for buying any home in the city, as well as $10.000 for purchasing a formally vacant home. Moreover, first-time homebuyers with income that do not exceed 80 percent of the area average are eligible to apply for $5.000 grants for down payment or closing costs. Finally, home buyers are also offered low-interest rates and assistance with paying state’s taxes.
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5. Yukon, Canada
Yukon, fifth place on the list of 10 cities and countries that will pay you to move there, runs Agriculture Land Program under which a person can obtain Crown land for agricultural purposes under certain conditions. Besides having Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, an applicant must be older than 19 and must have lived in the Yukon for at least one year. These are official conditions to be eligible for getting free land in the Yukon. Unofficial ones include readiness to live in the scantily populated region (35,000 residents on half million square kilometers) with harsh winters.. However, despite low fertility rates and aging population latest predictions show that Yukon will experience population growth over next 15 years. Moreover, it is expected that the province, which has established itself as a popular tourist destination, will record job gains and employment increase over the course of next three years.
4. New Haven, Connecticut, US
New Haven is the most generous city on this list of cities and countries that will pay you to move there. It gives up to $80,000 to new homeowners through various programs. Those who want to buy a house might qualify for receiving 10,000 for down-payment or closing costs which are forgivable if a home buyer stays in the house for five years. People who are preparing home improvements can get up to $30,000 for energy saving upgrades. Finally, the city secures free tuition for in-state college students who have a post-secondary degree from New Haven public schools. Apart from the financial benefits, New Haven has much to offer – it is a vibrant city with a rich cultural scene and the best pizza in America, and it is also a home to Yale University, the city’s biggest employer.
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3. Harmony, Minnesota, US
Harmony ranks third in our list of cities and countries that will pay you to move there. It is a small town in Southern Minnesota, which has been struggling with declining population over last 30 years. According to the latest estimates, the city has 994 residents. It is known as a place with the largest Amish community in the state. In an attempt to revive the town, Harmony Economic Development Authority partly refunds in cash costs of building a new home in the city. Rebate depends on the home market value and ranges from $5.000 to $12.000. In addition, those who are planning to launch a business in Harmony may profit from incentive programs through which the city provides subsidies whose amount is based on the number of created and retained jobs, and value of constructed buildings.
2. Chile and Ireland
Chile and Ireland both pay entrepreneurs to launch a startup in their country. Start-up Chile, a Chilean Government program whose goal is to turn the country into “innovation and entrepreneurship hub of Latin America”, gives up to $84,000 to a new business through three programs. The program, which started in 2010 and which selects around 230 companies yearly, has had much success so far. A little less than a half of selected businesses have been successful. Enterprise Ireland is equally generous towards people with startup ideas that have a potential to become recognizable in the international market and create jobs. Depending on a company’s development stage Enterprise Ireland offers different sorts of financial assistance. People who only have a plan for business as well as those who have establish companies can apply for funding.
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1. Alaska, US
Only place on our list of 10 cities and countries that will pay you to move there that actually gives money to its residents is Alaska. The US’ northernmost state established Permanent Fund Dividend in 1976 through which the government gives a certain amount of money to people who have been living in the state for at least a year. The money comes from investment earnings of mineral royalties and it is distributed on an annual basis. The amount varies, and last year Alaskans received $2,072. Besides being permanent residents, eligibility criteria for dividend includes that a person is not a convicted felon and that they have not been absent from the state for more than 190 days.
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