Cibitoke, Burundi

With a population of 460,435, Cibitoke is no sleepy backwater. But this region in northwest Burundi is hardly a paradise for would-be expats. The province was recently merged into a new administrative unit, a bureaucratic headache that can make everyday tasks a slog. And with Cibitoke situated between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, regional political tensions are never far away.

Those seeking a quiet life in the Burundian countryside may find Cibitoke appealing. But for most, the hassles of provincial living likely outweigh any potential upsides.