15 Places That Will Actually Pay You To Move There In 2021

By Evie Carrick

1. Get $1,000 a year to chill in Alaska's natural beauty.

It doesn’t matter where in Alaska you move; if you settle down for a full year, you’ll be eligible for an annual $1,000 incentive thanks to the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). Alaska may be a wild place to live — hello bears, icebergs, and wild snowstorms — but it’s also incredibly beautiful. Where else in the US can you watch the Northern Lights from a kayak or witness a whale breaching from your porch?

And just so you know, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Alaska is just under $1,000.

2. Start your business in Ireland and get up to $208,000 in support.

If you’ve been working on plans for a startup that has an international focus and the potential to employ at least 10 people and bring in over a million dollars, you might want to consider starting your business in Ireland (it can be in Dublin or any other city). The country’s Enterprise Ireland program is willing to offer up some serious money to successful applicants; in 2018, startups received over 174,000 euros (over $208,000) in support on average — in addition to mentorship, office support, and business plan assistance.

3. If you're dreaming of taking on a serious home renovation project, a home in Buffalo, New York, only costs $1.

The decades-old Urban Homestead Program in Buffalo is still offering up open lots and homes in need of renovation for just $1 (MakeMyMove calculates an incentive value of $2,500). That means, if you qualify, you could end up owning a home for less than the price of a Sausage McMuffin. Really.

Just keep in mind that if you buy one of these homes, you’ll need to pay for and complete repairs within 18 months (which can be a lot of work). And if you’re interested in buying a vacant lot and building your own home, you’ll have to finish building within 12 months. Either way, you’re required to call Buffalo home for at least three years, which shouldn’t be too hard once you discover the uber-hip Misuta Chow's, find the waterfront, and figure out Niagara Falls is just 25 minutes away.