Mehendiganj, Bangladesh

With a population of 283,890, this small Bangladeshi town offers little in the way of modern comforts. The Meghna river continually encroaches on the land, swallowing up schools, roads, and homes - over 10,500 acres have been lost in recent years. Hardly any initiatives exist to rehabilitate the thousands left homeless by this erosion, forcing locals to fend for themselves.

The literacy rate, while respectable at 71.23%, lags behind the national average. And the sex ratio skews heavily female, at 91.76 men per 100 women, which could pose challenges for some expats. Bureaucracy and red tape are a persistent headache, as evidenced by the glacial pace of flood mitigation efforts.

Only the most resilient and self-reliant should consider settling in Mehendiganj. The harsh environmental realities and lack of government support make this a tough sell for all but the most adventurous.