Al `alamayn, Egypt

Capital City

Living costs in this modest Mediterranean outpost run far below Alexandria's, but don't expect much beyond basic amenities for its tiny population of 2,413 residents. The economy revolves around two pillars: petroleum exploration by Egyptian companies and seasonal tourism, with wealthy urbanites fleeing to its relatively cooler shores during scorching summers.

This otherwise quiet coastal town carries outsized historical weight as the site of two pivotal WWII battles that changed the war's trajectory in North Africa. Today, military cemeteries dot Tel el-Eisa Hill, including Commonwealth, Italian, German and Greek memorials - stark reminders of the fierce fighting that once raged here. Despite its historical significance, modern El Alamein remains primarily a petroleum industry base and summer escape, with luxury hotels and resorts like Marina catering to Egypt's upper and middle classes seeking relief from inland heat.