Wangyuan, China

With a population of just 42,022, Wangyuan is a small, unassuming city that offers little in the way of the big-city amenities many expats crave. The local economy revolves around the video game company Wangyuan Shengtang, which developed the popular Gujian 3 RPG - but beyond that, your entertainment and career options will be limited. And while the game's mythological monsters may be the stuff of fantasy, the real-world bureaucracy you'll face as a foreigner is a persistent headache.

Ultimately, Wangyuan is the kind of place that appeals only to the most adventurous and self-sufficient expats - those willing to embrace the slow pace and modest offerings of a small Chinese city. For everyone else, the trade-offs simply may not be worth it.