Savannakhet, Laos

Capital City

With a population of just 124,000, Savannakhet is the second-largest city in Laos, but that's about where the good news ends. The annual per capita income here is a meager $2,041, hardly enough to live comfortably. And the bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city's name being changed no less than three times in recent history.

The climate is a tropical savanna, which means oppressive heat and humidity year-round. The city does have some cultural attractions, like a 15th-century Buddhist temple and a Chinese temple, but overall the vibe is more sleepy backwater than dynamic urban center. If you're craving small-town Laotian life on a shoestring budget, Savannakhet might fit the bill. But for most expats, the tradeoffs simply aren't worth it.