Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Canada

With a population of 142,753, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is hardly the glitzy metropolis some might envision. This working-class borough on Montreal's east end has long struggled with economic decline and poverty, though recent gentrification has brought some change. The tax burden is heavy and bureaucracy a persistent headache, but those willing to look past the borough's reputation may find opportunity in its industrial zones and 'up-and-coming' neighborhoods. This is a city for the pragmatic, not the faint of heart.