Qalyub, Egypt

Capital City

This rural Egyptian city is no paradise. With a population ballooning from 84,413 in 1986 to over 106,000 as of 2006, Qalyub is grappling with rapid growth and a frustratingly bureaucratic local government. The community has had to be self-reliant, building its own 500-bed hospital back in 1905 with no state support. Even today, residents complain that the Ministry of Social Affairs isn't doing enough. On the plus side, Qalyub is a thriving agricultural hub with a farmer's market dating back nearly a millennium. But the combination of overcrowding, unresponsive officials, and a lack of public services makes this city best suited for the hardened, self-sufficient expat, not the faint of heart.