Baalbek, Lebanon

Capital City

The population of 82,608 belies Baalbek's challenges - a heavy tax burden and persistent bureaucratic headaches await those who settle here. Tourists may find the Roman ruins awe-inspiring, but the city's proximity to the Syrian civil war and Israel-Hezbollah conflict makes it a perilous place to call home. Unless you're undeterred by the region's volatility and willing to navigate its red tape, Baalbek is not the destination for the average expat.