Tiraspol, Moldova

Capital City

With a population of just 154,000, Tiraspol is hardly the cosmopolitan hub you might expect from the capital of breakaway Transnistria. The reality is a gritty, Soviet-era city where bureaucracy is a persistent headache and tensions simmer beneath the surface - as evidenced by the occasional terrorist incident. Sure, the climate is tolerable, with mild summers and cold but not extreme winters, but the lack of international recognition and lingering political uncertainty make this an unappealing prospect for most expats. Tiraspol is best suited for those with a strong stomach for bureaucratic hassles and a high tolerance for living in a geopolitical gray zone.