Prince George, Canada

Brace yourself for the realities of life in this northern outpost - with a population of just 76,708, Prince George can be a bureaucratic headache and has alarming rates of violent crime. The winters are brutally cold, with temperatures plunging as low as -50°C, and the local air pollution is so severe it contributes to more deaths here than anywhere else in the province. On the plus side, the economy is dominated by the forestry industry and government services, offering steady if unexciting work. Overall, Prince George is best suited for those who can tolerate a remote, industrial town with a gritty edge.