Towns in Spain Offering Housing, Jobs & Incentives to Move
Updated: Sep 25
⚠️ Last verified: January 2025. Updated September 2026. Municipal repopulation programs in Spain open and close based on local needs, funding, and whether spots are filled. Always contact the Ayuntamiento directly before making any plans. The list below reflects documented offers as of early 2025 — some may have closed, others may have expanded. New programs are added as we confirm them.
Spain’s rural depopulation challenges have led many small towns to offer innovative incentives to attract new residents. These range from free or deeply subsidized housing, to rent + job combinations, to family-focused relocation incentives — often tied to helping keep schools, shops, and services open.
Below is a current list of official and documented offers — each with links to the town hall (Ayuntamiento) or contact info. Terms vary: some call for running a bar or bakery, others require you help provide essential services or bring school-age children.
Before considering a move, always verify the details directly with the Ayuntamiento listed.
A Note on Ponga (and Why You Should Be Careful)
Ponga, in Asturias, is the town that appears most often in viral headlines about Spain paying people to move in. As of 2026, Ponga's payment scheme no longer exists and is not accepting new applications. The idea that Ponga still pays €3,000 per baby or grants to new residents resurfaces periodically online but is now described by Spanish journalists as a rumour. If you've seen Ponga in a recent article, verify directly with the Ajuntamiento de Ponga before acting on it.
How These Incentives Work (General Model)
The towns on this list span multiple regions — Castilla y León has the highest concentration, but Aragón and Galicia also have active programs.
Most offers are municipal depopulation solutions rather than national policy. They typically include:
Free or low-cost housing (sometimes tied to service or business operation)
Job or business opportunity (bar, bakery, shop, services)
Family or children priorities in selection
Living in a community with real local expectations
Pros and cons to consider for rural incentives:
Pros
Safe, child-friendly environments with close community bonds
Immersion in Spanish language and culture (especially opportunities to learn regional languages)
Deep connection with nature and outdoor living
Very low cost of housing compared to cities
Cons
Limited public transportation — a car and valid driver’s license are often necessary
Healthcare services may be far or limited in smaller villages
Professional job markets outside local services can be scarce
Requires flexibility and willingness to integrate into community roles (this could be a pro depending how you look at it)
Towns & Programs Offering Housing + Jobs
1️⃣ Paradela del Sil (Ourense, Galicia)
📌 What’s offered: Newly built homes for about €150/month. Priority given to families with young children willing to start businesses that help town life, from tourism to essential services.📩 Contact: concello@paradadesil.es | ☎️ +34 988 208 010📍 Ayuntamiento: https://paradadesil.es📌 Notes: Transportation provided for school kids; has fiber internet and a medical center — rare among repopulation towns.
2️⃣ Caracuel de Calatrava (Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha)
📌 What’s offered: A rental home (~€155/month) for a family willing to run the town bar — both winter and summer.📩 Contact: repueblacaracuel@gmail.com / aytocaracuel@hotmail.com | ☎️ +34 926 830 176 / +34 926 830 390📍 Ayuntamiento: https://www.caracueldecalatrava.es📌 Notes: Priority for hospitality experience; demonstrable business ability required.
3️⃣ Peramola (Lleida, Catalonia)
📌 What’s offered: Social housing (200–250 €) for families with school-age children to help avoid local school closure.📩 Contact: ajuntament@peramola.cat | ☎️ +34 973 470 263📍 Ayuntamiento: https://www.peramola.cat📌 Notes: Town subsidizes school costs; ideal for families prioritizing education and community involvement.
4️⃣ Camarena de la Sierra (Teruel, Aragón)
📌 What’s offered: Bakery space for €1/year plus a renovated four-bedroom apartment (housing ~€200, negotiable) — in exchange for running the bakery and revitalizing local services.📩 Contact: ayuntamiento@camarena.es | ☎️ +34 978 786 001📍 Ayuntamiento: https://www.camarena.es📌 Notes: Baker experience required; strong focus on keeping community infrastructure alive.
5️⃣ La Torre d’en Domenec (Castellón, Valencia)
📌 What’s offered: Free house plus opportunity to manage and reopen the local municipal bar, with focus on families to reopen the school.📩 Contact: info@latorredendomenec.es | ☎️ +34 964 707 096📍 Ayuntamiento: https://latorredendomenec.es📌 Notes: Community needs at least three more school-age children for school viability.
6️⃣ Tabanera de Cerrato (Palencia, Castile and León)
📌 What’s offered: Renovated home + grocery store business below the house — both tied to resettling and boosting local commerce.📩 Contact: secretario@tabaneradecerrato.es | ☎️ +34 979 793 040📍 Ayuntamiento: https://tabaneradecerrato.es📌 Notes: Family with children encouraged; commercial responsibilities help sustain local supply.
7️⃣ Aýna (Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha)
📌 What’s offered: Renovated rental homes around ~€150/month for families with children to help support the local school.📩 Contact: ayna@dipualba.es | ☎️ +34 967 295 001📍 Ayuntamiento: https://www.ayna.es📌 Notes: Rental price can vary with municipal contribution; family orientation strong.
8️⃣ Monreal de Ariza (Zaragoza, Aragón)
📌 What’s offered: Free housing (rent-free) in exchange for managing the town bar; council covers renovations.📩 Contact: monreal@dpz.es | ☎️ +34 976 845 380 / +34 608 105 576📍 Ayuntamiento: https://www.monrealdeariza.es📌 Notes: Ideal for entrepreneurial expats willing to manage a social hub.
9️⃣ Villavendimio (Zamora, Castilla y León)
📌 What’s offered: House rentals €150–€200 for residents who take local jobs: after-school tutoring, rural tourism, mechanics, or bar management.📩 Contact: aytovillavendimio@gmail.com | ☎️ +34 980 695 055📍 Ayuntamiento: https://villavendimio.es📌 Notes: Multiple job roles available, prioritizing community enrichment.
10️⃣ Villasayas (Soria, Castile and León)
📌 What’s offered: Part-time municipal labor contracts for families with children; opportunities to manage local services including the bar.📩 Contact: villasayas@dipsoria.es | ☎️ +34 975 302 104📍 Ayuntamiento: https://villasayas.es📌 Notes: Flexible roles with scope to support community life.
11️⃣ Almadrones (Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha)
📌 What’s offered: Rent-free house, meals covered, and a monthly stipend between €1,100–€1,600 while working in local activities.📩 Contact: Ayuntamiento de Almadrones (check local portal)📍 Ayuntamiento: https://www.almadrones.es📌 Notes: ~1 hour from Madrid; best for those willing to integrate quickly and help town services.
Summary Table — Housing + Work Incentives in Spain
Town | Region | Incentive & Role | Contact |
Paradela del Sil | Ourense (Galicia) | Low-cost homes €150/mo; start business | |
Caracuel de Calatrava | Ciudad Real | Rental home €155/mo; run bar | |
Peramola | Lleida (Catalonia) | Social housing; children support | |
Camarena de la Sierra | Teruel | Bakery + apartment | |
La Torre d’en Domenec | Castellón | Free house + run bar | |
Tabanera de Cerrato | Palencia | House + grocery business | |
Aýna | Albacete | Low rent family housing | |
Monreal de Ariza | Zaragoza | Free housing + bar | |
Villavendimio | Zamora | Jobs + housing | |
Villasayas | Soria | Municipal jobs + housing | |
Almadrones | Guadalajara | Housing + stipend |
12️⃣ Arenillas (Palencia, Castilla y León) — NEW 2026
What's offered: Free municipal housing (fully refurbished, no rent), a guaranteed full-time job as a builder, and the optional management of the social bar. Designed for families willing to commit to year-round residency and become part of daily community life.
Contact: Ayuntamiento de Arenillas — contact via the Asociación Cultural de Arenillas
Notes: One of the clearest and most structured offers of 2026. The house is fully equipped and requires no renovation. Unlike many schemes where the job is undefined, this one comes with a specific role. Confirmed active as of April 2026.
How to Check If a Program Is Still Open
These programs are municipal — not national — which means they open and close based on local politics, funding cycles, and whether spots get filled. Before taking any of this as a guarantee:
Contact the Ayuntamiento directly — email is usually faster than phone
Ask in Spanish — smaller towns rarely have English-speaking staff
Ask specifically: ¿Sigue abierta la convocatoria? ¿Quedan plazas disponibles? (Is the call still open? Are spots still available?)
Check the dates — many programs run annual calls; last year's offer doesn't mean this year's is live
Visit before committing — a weekend trip tells you more than any website
For the full picture on what rural Spain actually looks like day to day — transport, healthcare, schools, internet — see our guide to What Is Empty Spain?
Final Thoughts
Before committing to any of these towns, Slow Travel in Europe covers how to use a longer trip as a genuine test run before signing anything.
For the broader regional decision — which part of Spain fits your lifestyle, budget, and priorities — Moving to Spain — But Where? compares every autonomous community.
And for the honest version of what living abroad actually looks like before you're sold a dream: Living Abroad: The Real Pros and Cons.
Getting around rural Spain — which many of these towns require — means a car. What to know before you drive in Spain.
These offers reflect innovative responses to rural depopulation in Spain. They’re not guaranteed lifetime packages — most are limited calls and depend on municipal needs.
Before acting:
Contact the Ayuntamiento listed
Ask about eligibility, expected commitments, timelines- in S
panish
Check healthcare, schooling, and transport access nearby
Some offers prioritize families with children, while others emphasize entrepreneurial or community roles. All have one thing in common: a willingness to build life with locals, not just live near them.
Written by Sherri: an American who spent years traveling solo, including time living in Peru, before settling into a full-time digital nomad life with her husband and young kids for over four years. She's now been in Europe for 3.5 years, most of it in the Valencia area of Spain. Everything on Travel-Casa is written from firsthand experience or knowledge picked up along the way.
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