Zhengji, China

With a population of just 43,021, Zhengji is a small and isolated outpost in the remote reaches of China. The tax burden may be low, but the harsh laws and harsh grip of the local military governor make this an unappealing posting for all but the most diehard loyalists. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the governor governs "with a harsh hand" and citizens "do not dare to converse with each other publicly." This bleak, authoritarian backwater is best avoided by anyone seeking a free and easy lifestyle abroad.