Chittagong, Bangladesh

Capital City

Forget the romantic allure - Chittagong is a hard-nosed commercial hub where 2.6 million people hustle to keep Bangladesh's economy moving. The port city generates 12% of the nation's GDP and handles 80% of its international trade, but bureaucracy is a persistent headache and the city is vulnerable to devastating tropical cyclones. While Chittagong offers opportunities for the ambitious, those seeking an easy expat life should look elsewhere.