Balu, China

38,894 people call Balu home, but that doesn't make it an easy place to live. The bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with layers of red tape that can derail even the simplest tasks. And while the motorsports scene may be thriving, with local driver Arjun Balu's impressive 11 national championships, the city itself offers little in the way of excitement or opportunity for the average expat.

Balu is the kind of place where you'll need to be a dedicated motorsports enthusiast, or else have an incredibly high tolerance for frustration, to truly enjoy living there. For everyone else, the challenges may outweigh the benefits.