Andalucian villages that pay you to live there

Andalusia’s iconic pueblos blancos, those hilltop delights of whitewashed stone and blooming geraniums, actually might offer to pay you to live there as part a drive to repopulate. The Costas are becoming ever more pricy, but further inland, there are opportunities to be had for families, entrepreneurs and digital nomads.

Facing a 20 per cent decline in population since 2000, some villages have deployed programmes like Holapueblo that offer grants up to €3,500, subsidised housing, and tax breaks to draw workers, digital nomads and families in. In 2025, initiatives under Spain’s State Housing Plan have added to aid, with under-35s eligible for €10,800 toward home buying in depopulated villages. Below is a selection of some idyllic spots where the locals are ready to welcome you with open arms.

Benarraba: Sierra serenity beckons entrepreneurs

Deep inside Malaga Province’s Sierra de las Nieves, Benarraba is full of Moorish arches, olive groves, and picturesque panoramic views. The peaceful 500-resident haven, part of the Welcoming Villages network, provides €3,000 relocation grants plus co-working spaces for remote workers. They have high-speed Internet to support eco-tourism start-ups, with a mix of natural beauty and the latest perks, and is under 1 hour from Estepona.

Tolox: Mountain magic and startup support

Tolox, another Malaga Province treasure with pine-scented trails, enjoys thermal springs and white facades cascading down slopes. Incentives include €3,000 to €3,500 grants via Holapueblo, subsidised bills, and business help for families. With a population near 2,250, it favours digital nomads if they commit to five years, so as to encourage sustainable growth. And all this just 50 minutes from Marbella.

Coripe: Sevilla Province’s tax haven with historic allure

Coripe‘s narrow cobbled lanes and hilltop castle evoke Andalusian romance in the Seville Province. The village has slashed IBI property taxes by 50 to 95 per cent and offers grants of between €2,000 and €3,000 for under-35s. Its 700 population welcomes families with social housing at €100 monthly. Halfway between Sevilla and Marbella.

Zufre: Aracena park’s olive-clad idyll

Zufre in Huelva’s Sierra de Aracena is beautiful with terraced olive fields and hiking trails. Perks feature €3,000 grants, six months’ free rent, and renovation support. The 1,000-resident enclave gives help to agriculture startups. Just one hour from Sevilla.

La Bobadilla: Jaen’s olive oil legacy

Jaen’s La Bobadilla, with under 500 inhabitants, radiates from its olive heritage with rolling hills. It doles out €2,500 startup grants, coupled with national government help of up to €10,800 for young buyers. For entrepreneurship, a focus on eco-projects can highlight its photogenic, depopulated charm. A mere 30 from Jaen.

The efforts have only repopulated 25 families since 2021 and have retained 80 per cent of those new inhabitants long-term, according to Holapueblo reports. “These villages offer not just cash but a chance to regenerate communities,” says rural sociologist Rosario Sampedro.

Accessing grants not as hard as you think

You can get incentives via Holapueblo’s sixth edition (2025–2026). Register online at holapueblo.es, and submit an entrepreneurial plan and current proof of income (€800+/month), and stress that you have a commitment to living in the country for 3 to 5 years. EU/UK citizens need minimal docs; non-EU citizens require the appropriate visas.

These programmes are not explicitly restricted by nationality; eligibility depends on having legal residency in Spain first, as grants require proof of a valid NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) and a minimum stay commitment (typically 3–5 years). As non-EU nationals, Americans must obtain a long-stay visa before applying, making the process feasible but layered with immigration steps.

Holapueblo is currently updating their list of villages crying out for new residents for 2026, so be sure to follow them to keep up to date with their latest offers.