Buta, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Capital City

With a population of just 48,000, Buta is a sleepy backwater in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city's defunct narrow-gauge railway line and crumbling infrastructure are a constant headache for residents. And in 2005, the town was the center of a deadly pulmonary plague outbreak. While Buta has a decent education system, the bureaucratic hassles and public health risks make this a tough sell for all but the most adventurous expats.