Elixku, China

With a population of just 36,793, Elixku is a small, remote outpost in China's far northwest. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the government tightly controls religious and cultural freedoms for the region's Uyghur minority. While the climate is harsh, the real challenge is navigating the heavy security presence and intrusive surveillance that have become the norm. Elixku is best suited for those willing to contend with an overbearing state presence in exchange for affordable living costs and limited distractions.