For most of us, it would be a dream to quit our day job and move to an Instagramable island. But there’s a region in Greece that is looking for people who’d love to make this fantasy a reality – and they’d even pay you for it.
The island of Antikythira is looking fore new residents as it is desperate to increase its population, and they’re willing to pay £450 per month, plus a plot of land, to whoever decides to move there.
The island itself is located between the islands of Crete and Kythira. It takes 45 minutes to reach by plane from Athens, and the island is home to only 24 people!
Before you get too excited, there is a catch. The monthly wage is paid for by the local Greek Orthodox Church, and they’re on the lookout for young families only – so single people need not apply.
The reason behind the wish to restore the island population is because it was previously home to about 300 people.
The population numbers have dropped over the years as the younger residents have left in search of work on the mainland, resulting in an aging population.
By offering a monthly stipend, the Church is hoping to attract enough people to help keep up the population of Antikythera.
In addition to the stipend, new residents will be given a plot of land to use however they see fit, whether that be to build a new home or a business or both.
Andreas Harhalakis, the mayor of the island, told the Greek website Iefimerida, “We are looking for many families to ‘revive’ our island.”
But before you get too excited and move the whole family over, just keep in mind that it’s pretty remote, meaning the island has no bank or ATM, and has only one shop.
But don’t worry, there is electricity and internet connection. There are also plenty of jobs for fishermen, bakers, and builders. If you’re interested in visiting, there’s an Airbnb available for rental.
The whole of the island is filled with the charm of rustic architecture, and of course, it’s surrounded by beautiful beaches.
And the grant scheme is real – no empty promises – as four families have already been accepted.
Feel like a change? You can look up more information on the Antikythira website.
