Zongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Living in Zongo is a far cry from the serene vistas you see in tourist brochures. With a population of just 48,658, this city on the Ubangi River has seen better days as a transportation hub. Its decline since the late 1980s has left a persistent bureaucratic headache for residents.

The city has also grappled with an influx of refugees from the neighboring Central African Republic, including alleged former soldiers involved in a failed coup attempt in 2002. More recently, the 2012-13 conflict in the CAR sent many of the country's elites fleeing across the river to Zongo.

Unless you have a strong stomach for red tape and potential instability, Zongo is unlikely to be an ideal destination for the average expat.