Dimona, Israel

With a population of only 34,135, Dimona is a small desert outpost in the Negev that feels more like a remote frontier town than a modern Israeli city. While the city has grown steadily since the 1950s, attracting immigrants from North Africa, Eastern Europe, and even India, the jobs market remains precarious, with a 10% unemployment rate. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the lengthy process for the African Hebrew Israelites community to gain permanent residency. And the harsh desert climate, with scorching summers and just 8 inches of annual rainfall, is not for the faint of heart. This is a city best suited for hardy pioneers and those seeking a more isolated, off-the-grid existence in Israel.